Poem #395
English Translation
Persian
Veil the rose-petal of your face with the hyacinth of your hair
cover your face, and throw the world into ruin.
گُلبرگ را ز سُنْبُلِ مُشکین، نِقاب کُن
یعنی که رُخ بپوش و جهانی، خراب کُن
Scatter sweat from your face, and make the garden's edge fragrant with rose-water
like the tear-filled glasses of our eyes.
بِفْشان عَرَق ز چهره و اطرافِ باغ را
چون شیشه‌هایِ دیدهٔ ما پُرگُلاب کُن
Since the days of the Rose and life itself haste to depart
O Cupbearer, make haste with the circle of ruby wine.
اَیّامِ گُل، چو عمر به رفتن شتاب کرد
ساقی به دورِ بادهٔ گلگون، شتاب کُن
Open your languid, intoxicated narcissus-eyes with grace
and put the beautiful narcissus of the garden to sleep with envy.
بُگْشا به شیوه، نرگسِ پُرخوابِ مست را
وز رَشک، چَشمِ نرگسِ رَعنا به خواب کن
Smell the violet's scent and grasp the beloved's tress
look upon the tulip's color and resolve to drink wine.
بویِ بنفشه بشنو و زُلْفِ نگار گیر
بِنْگَر به رنگِ لاله و عَزْمِ شراب کُن
Since it is your custom to kill your lovers
drink wine with our enemies and heap reproaches upon us.
زآن جا که رسم و عادتِ عاشق‌کشی توست
با دشمنان، قَدَح کَش و با ما عِتاب کُن
Open your eyes to the face of the wine-cup like a bubble
and measure the foundation of this house of life by that fragile sphere.
همچون حُباب، دیده به رویِ قَدَح گُشای
وین خانه را قیاسِ اساس از حُباب کُن
Hafez seeks union through the path of prayer
O Lord, answer the prayer of the weary-hearted!
حافظ وِصال می‌طَلَبَد از رهِ دُعا
یا رب! دعایِ خسته‌دلان، مُسْتَجاب کُن
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem expresses plea and prayer. The verse about asking the beloved to 'cover the face and destroy the world' and 'scatter sweat like the glasses of our eyes full of rose-water' is a powerful statement. The observation that Hafez asks God to 'make the prayer of the tired-hearted ones accepted' when seeking 'union from the path of prayer' is a profound statement. The poem's combination of plea and prayer makes it very engaging.
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