Poem #34
English Translation
Persian
My eye's wide portico is truly your own nest
show grace and settle in, for this whole house is yours, dear guest.
رَواقِ منظرِ چشمِ من آشیانهٔ توست
کَرَم نما و فرود آ که خانه، خانهٔ توست
With mole and line you stole the mystics' hearts away
such wondrous tricks lie hidden in your trap and snare's display.
به لطفِ خال و خط از عارفان ربودی دل
لطیفه‌هایِ عَجَب زیرِ دام و دانهٔ توست
May your heart rejoice with the Rose, O Nightingale of dawn
for all the garden's love-songs are the music you have drawn.
دلت به وصلِ گل ای بلبلِ صبا خوش باد
که در چمن همه گلبانگِ عاشقانهٔ توست
Entrust my heart's frail cure unto your ruby lip
for that elating gem resides within your treasure-ship.
عِلاجِ ضعفِ دلِ ما به لب حوالت کن
که این مُفَرّح یاقوت در خزانهٔ توست
In body I'm too weak to serve you as I ought
yet all my soul's distillate is the dust before your court.
به تن مُقصرم از دولتِ ملازمتت
ولی خلاصهٔ جان، خاکِ آستانهٔ توست
I am not one who hands my heart to every charming face
the treasury's locked door bears your seal and your own grace.
من آن نیَم که دَهَم نقدِ دل به هر شوخی
دَرِ خزانه، به مُهر تو و نشانهٔ توست
What marvel are you, O knight of sweetness and of art
e'en Heaven's unruly steed is tamed beneath your lash's smart.
تو خود چه لعبتی ای شهسوارِ شیرین کار
که توسَنی چو فلک، رامِ تازیانهٔ توست
What place have I, when even the juggling Sphere does slip
before the clever ruses in your bag of ready scripts?
چه جای من، که بِلَغزَد سپهرِ شعبده‌باز
از این حیَل که در انبانهٔ بهانهٔ توست
Your gathering's song now makes the very heavens dance and sway
since Hafez' honeyed verses form the heart of your own lay.
سرودِ مجلست اکنون فلک به رقص آرَد
که شعرِ حافظِ شیرین سخن ترانهٔ توست
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 6/10. This poem appears to be addressed to a patron or beloved, with courtly praise elements. The imagery is beautiful (portico, nest, ruby treasury) but somewhat conventional. The verse about not giving the 'cash of the heart to every joker' shows discernment in love. The final verse's claim that Hafez's poetry will make the heavens dance is bold self-praise. The poem's structure and imagery are more appreciated by those familiar with Persian court poetry conventions. The theme of service and devotion is clear but may be less immediately engaging for modern Western readers.
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