Poem #368
English Translation
Persian
Arise! Let us seek an opening at the tavern door today
and sitting on the Beloved's path, for our desire pray.
خیز تا از درِ میخانه گُشادی طلبیم
به رَهِ دوست نشینیم و مُرادی طلبیم
We have no stores for the journey to the Shrine of Union's grace
so we beg for our provision at the tavern's marketplace.
زادِ راهِ حَرمِ وصل نداریم مگر
به گدایی ز درِ میکده زادی طلبیم
Though our tears are stained with blood, and flow in endless streams
we seek to send a message pure through our tormented dreams.
اشکِ آلودهٔ ما گرچه روان است ولی
به رسالت سویِ او پاک‌نهادی طلبیم
May the joy of your grief's scar be forbidden to my heart
if I seek relief or justice from the pain you impart.
لذتِ داغِ غمت بر دلِ ما باد حرام
اگر از جورِ غمِ عشقِ تو دادی طلبیم
To paint the beauty of your mole upon the eye's clear sphere
requires ink we borrow from the pupil dark and dear.
نقطهٔ خالِ تو بر لوحِ بصر نَتوان زد
مگر از مَردُمَکِ دیده مِدادی طلبیم
My heart desired a coquettish glance from your sweet lip's domain
with sugary laughter it replied: 'More profit do we gain!'
عشوه‌ای از لبِ شیرینِ تو دل خواست به جان
به شکرخنده لَبَت گفت مَزادی طلبیم
To bring a copy of perfume to my distracted mind
we seek the fragrant ink of down your beauty has designed.
تا بُوَد نسخهٔ عطری دل سودازده را
از خطِ غالیه‌سایِ تو سوادی طلبیم
Since the treasure of your grief is found but in a joyful breast
we seek a happy heart to house the sorrow we love best.
چون غمت را نَتَوان یافت مگر در دلِ شاد
ما به امّیدِ غمت خاطرِ شادی طلبیم
How long, O Hafez, will you sit at the school's dry, barren gate?
Arise! And seek your freedom where the tavern keepers wait.
بر درِ مدرسه تا چند نشینی حافظ؟
خیز تا از درِ میخانه گُشادی طلبیم
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem expresses seeking and devotion. The verse about seeking 'opening from the door of the wine-house' and sitting 'to the path of the friend' is a powerful statement. The observation that Hafez and his companions seek 'joy in the heart' to 'the hope of your grief' when 'your grief cannot be found but in the joyful heart' is a profound statement. The poem's combination of seeking and devotion makes it very engaging.
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