Poem #440
English Translation
Persian
At dawn I told the wind the tale of my desire and pain,
A voice replied: 'Trust in the Lord, His grace will fall like rain.'
سحر با باد می‌گفتم حدیث آرزومندی
خطاب آمد که «واثق شو به الطاف خداوندی»
The morning prayer, the nightly sigh, are keys to treasure troves,
Walk in this path, and you will join the Friend your spirit loves.
دعای صبح و آه شب، کلید گنج مقصود است
بدین راه و روش می‌رو، که با دلدار پیوندی
The pen has not the tongue to tell the secrets of Love's fire,
Beyond all words and speech lies the explaining of desire.
قلم را آن زبان نَبْوَد، که سرِّ عشق گوید
باز ورای حدّ تقریر است، شرح آرزومندی
O Joseph of Egypt! Though the crown has made your head hold high,
Ask of your father once again, let not son's love die.
الا ای یوسف مصری، که کردت سلطنت مغرور
پدر را باز پرس آخر، کجا شد مهر فرزندی؟
This beautiful old world has no compassion in its heart,
Why seek its love? Why bind your soul to such a faithless part?
جهان پیر رعنا را، ترحّم در جِبِلَّت نیست
ز مهر او چه می‌پرسی؟ در او همّت چه می‌بندی؟
O Royal Bird! Why hunt for bones with greed so mean and low?
Pity the shadow of your grace on worthless things to throw.
همایی چون تو عالی‌قدر، حرص استخوان تا کی؟
دریغ آن سایهٔ همّت، که بر نااهل افکندی
If there is profit in this mart, 'tis with the dervish poor,
O God, grant me contentment's wealth, and dervishhood secure.
در این بازار اگر سودی‌ست، با درویش خرسند است
خدایا منعَمم گردان به درویشی و خرسندی
To Hafez's verse the Cashmere eyes dance in a joyful band,
And Turks who dwell in Samarkand, the beauties of the land.
به شعر حافظِ شیراز می‌رقصند و می‌نازند
سیه‌چشمان کشمیری و ترکان سمرقندی
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem contains Arabic phrases and expresses wisdom. The Arabic phrase 'Be confident to the graces of the Lord' adds cultural depth. The reference to Joseph of Egypt adds cultural depth. The verse about 'the prayer of morning and the sigh of night being the key of the treasure of the desired' is a powerful statement. The observation that 'the black-eyed ones of Kashmir and the Turks of Samarkand dance and boast to the poetry of Hafez of Shiraz' is a striking statement. The poem's combination of Arabic phrases and wisdom makes it very engaging.
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