Poem #340
English Translation
Persian
I boil like a wine jar from my heart's intense red flame
my lips are sealed, I drink my blood and silence I reclaim.
من که از آتشِ دل چون خُمِ مِی در جوشم
مُهر بر لب زده، خون می‌خورم و خاموشم
To crave the Beloved's lips is death for any soul
yet see how with my life itself I chase that goal.
قصدِ جان است طمع در لبِ جانان کردن
تو مرا بین که در این کار به جان می‌کوشم
When shall I break free from heartache's binding chain
as every breath some dusky curl loops whispers in my brain?
من کِی آزاد شَوَم از غمِ دل چون هر دَم
هندویِ زلفِ بُتی حلقه کُنَد در گوشم
Far be it that I trust my own obedience' feeble gleam
I only know from time to time I sip a cup's red stream.
حاشَ لِلَّه که نیَم معتقدِ طاعتِ خویش
این قَدَر هست که گَه گَه قدحی می‌نوشم
I hope despite foes' envy on the Reckoning's bright day
His pardon will not pile sin's burden on my frame of clay.
هست امیدم که علیرغمِ عدو روزِ جزا
فیضِ عَفوَش نَنَهد بارِ گُنَه بر دوشم
My father sold the garden of delight for grains of wheat
why shouldn't I the world's estate for one small brook deplete?
پدرم روضهٔ رضوان به دو گندم بفروخت
من چرا مُلکِ جهان را به جوی نفروشم؟!
This cloak I wear is not because my faith is pure and bright
it veils a hundred hidden flaws from every watching sight.
خرقه‌پوشیِ من از غایتِ دین‌داری نیست
پرده‌ای بر سرِ صد عیبِ نهان می‌پوشم
I long to drink from nothing save the jar's own crystal lees
what can I do if I refuse the Magian elder's pleas?
من که خواهم که ننوشم به جز از راوَقِ خُم
چه کنم گر سخنِ پیرِ مُغان نَنْیوشَم؟
If the minstrel strikes the path of love in melodies so lush
Hafez' song will snatch my sense in whirling rapture's rush.
گر از این دست زَنَد مُطربِ مجلس رَهِ عشق
شعرِ حافظ بِبَرَد وقتِ سماع از هوشم
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem expresses suffering and reflection. The verse about being 'in boiling like the wine-jar from the fire of the heart' with 'seal on the lip' and drinking 'blood' while 'silent' is a powerful statement. The observation that Hafez's father 'sold the garden of paradise for two grains' and asking 'why don't I sell the kingdom of the world to a stream' is a profound statement. The poem's combination of suffering and reflection makes it very engaging.
Related Poems
"O Sufi, come, for the cup is a clear mirror, **** so that you may see the clarity of the ruby-colored wine"
"Don't seek obedience and covenant and righteousness from me, the drunk **** for I became famous for cup-measuring on the..."
"The Sufi knew the hidden secret from the radiance of wine **** you can know each person's jewel from this ruby"
"What is sweeter than pleasure and companionship and garden and spring **** where is the cupbearer? Say, what is the caus..."