Poem #420
English Translation
Persian
Suddenly you raised the veil—what meaning hides in this?
Drunk you rushed outside the house—what meaning lies in this?
ناگهان پرده برانداخته‌ای یعنی چه؟
مست از خانه برون تاخته‌ای یعنی چه؟
With tresses in the morning wind and ear at rival's door,
How have you made your peace with all? What meaning do you store?
زلف در دستِ صبا، گوش به فرمان رقیب
این چنین با همه درساخته‌ای یعنی چه؟
You are the monarch of the fair, the beggar's cherished bliss;
And yet you know not what you're worth—what meaning lies in this?
شاهِ خوبانی و منظورِ گدایان شده‌ای
قدرِ این مرتبه نشناخته‌ای یعنی چه؟
You placed the tip of your own hair within my grasp before;
Why now cast me upon the earth—what meaning hides once more?
نه سرِ زلفِ خود اول تو به دستم دادی
بازم از پای درانداخته‌ای یعنی چه؟
Your words disclosed the mouth's own code, your waist its hidden sign;
Why draw a sword from out that waist? What meaning's in the line?
سخنت رمزِ دهان گفت و کمر سِرِّ میان
وز میان تیغ به ما آخته‌ای یعنی چه؟
All play with beads of your own love to form their cherished bliss;
Yet in the end you game us all—what meaning dwells in this?
هر کس از مُهرهٔ مِهر تو به نقشی مشغول
عاقبت با همه کج باخته‌ای یعنی چه؟
Hafez, when once the Friend took rest inside your narrow heart,
Why leave the strangers dwelling there—what meaning does this start?
حافظا در دلِ تنگت چو فرود آمد یار
خانه از غیر نپرداخته‌ای یعنی چه؟
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem expresses questioning and confusion. The repeated structure of 'meaning, what?' creates a powerful sense of bewilderment. The verse about asking 'what does it mean' when the beloved 'rushed out intoxicated from the house' and 'removed the curtain suddenly' is a powerful statement. The observation that Hafez asks 'what does it mean' when 'the friend descended in the narrow heart' and 'the house was not cleaned from the stranger' is a profound statement. The poem's combination of questioning and confusion makes it very engaging.
Related Poems
"O Cupbearer, circulate the cup and pass it, for love seemed easy at first but difficulties arose."
"If that Turk of Shiraz takes my heart in hand, **** I will give Samarkand and Bukhara for his Hindu mole."
"To the courtiers of the sultan, who will deliver this prayer? **** That in gratitude for kingship, do not drive the begg..."
"O cupbearer, arise and pour the cup, **** put dust on the head of the grief of days"