Poem #317
English Translation
Persian
I speak it openly, and my heart swells with pride
I'm love's own slave, and free from both worlds beside.
فاش می‌گویم و از گفتهٔ خود دلشادم
بندهٔ عشقم و از هر دو جهان آزادم
I was a bird in Eden's holy garden free
how can I tell of separation's misery, caught in this world's snare that captured me?
طایرِ گلشنِ قُدسم چه دهم شرحِ فِراق؟
که در این دامگَهِ حادثه چون افتادم
I was an angel once, in Heaven's highest dome
but Adam brought me to this ruined-splendid home.
من مَلَک بودم و فردوسِ بَرین جایَم بود
آدم آورد در این دیرِ خراب‌آبادم
Tuba's shade, the houris' charm, the fountain's brink divine
all fled my memory for the air of your street's shrine.
سایهٔ طوبی و دلجوییِ حور و لبِ حوض
به هوایِ سرِ کویِ تو بِرَفت از یادم
Upon my heart's page, only alif—my Friend's tall frame
my Master taught no other letter, what's to blame?
نیست بر لوحِ دلم جز الفِ قامتِ دوست
چه کُنَم حرفِ دِگَر یاد نداد استادم
No astrologer could read my fortune's star above
O Lord, what natal sign marked my birth from the world I love?
کوکبِ بختِ مرا هیچ مُنَجِّم نَشِناخت
یا رب از مادرِ گیتی به چه طالع زادم؟
Since I became the ring upon love's tavern door
each breath brings fresh new grief—congratulations evermore!
تا شدم حلقه به گوشِ درِ میخانهٔ عشق
هر دَم آید غمی از نو به مبارکبادم
My eye's dark pupil drinks my heart's blood—it is just
why did I give my heart to people in my trust?
می‌خورد خونِ دلم مردمک دیده، سزاست
که چرا دل به جگرگوشهٔ مردم دادم
Wipe Hafez's face with your dark tresses from these tears
else this endless flood will wash away my years.
پاک کن چهرهٔ حافظ به سرِ زلف ز اشک
ور نه این سیلِ دَمادَم بِبَرَد بنیادم
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 9/10. This is one of Hafez's most profound poems. The verse about being 'an angel and paradise was my place' but 'Adam brought me to this ruined-inhabited temple' is a powerful statement. The observation that 'on the tablet of my heart is only the letter alif of the stature of the friend' and 'the master did not give memory of other letters' is a profound statement. The poem's combination of mysticism and emotional expression makes it extremely engaging.