Poem #46
English Translation
Persian
Rose in hand, wine in grasp, and the Beloved near
I am the world's great sultan—or its slave sincere.
گُل در بَر و مِی در کَف و مَعشوق به کام است
سُلطانِ جهانم به چُنین روز، غُلام است
Bring candles to this gathering! Tonight the Friend's full moon
lights up our circle with its perfect boon.
گو شَمْع میارید در این جَمْع که اِمْشَب
در مَجْلِسِ ما، ماهِ رُخِ دوست، تَمام است
In our creed, wine is lawful, yet I declare
without your face, O Cypress fair, it's forbidden there.
در مَذْهَبِ ما، باده، حَلال است ولیکن
بی‌رویِ تو ای سَروِ گُل‌اَندام، حَرام است
My ear attends the reed and harp's melodious play
my eye beholds the ruby lips and wine cup's sway.
گوشَم همه بر قولِ نِی و نَغْمِه‌یِ چَنْگ است
چَشْمَم، همه، بر لَعْلِ لَب و گَرْدِشِ جام است
Mix perfume with the wine within our gathering hall
each moment your hair's fragrance scents us, one and all.
در مَجْلِسِ ما، عِطر مَیامیز که ما را
هر لحظه، زِ گیسو‌یِ تو، خوش‌بوی مَشام است
Speak not of sugar's taste or candy's sweetness bright
your lips provide fulfillment, pure delight.
از چاشنیِ قَنْد مگو هیچ و زِ شِکَّر
زان رو که مرا از لبِ شیرینِ تو، کام است
As long as grief for you dwells in my ruined heart
the tavern quarter is my home, my sacred part.
تا گَنْجِ غَمَت در دِلِ ویرانه، مُقیم است
همواره مرا کویِ خَرابات، مُقام است
Why speak of shame? My name derives from shame's deep well
why ask of fame? My shame from fame's bright knell.
از نَنْگ چه گویی که مرا نام زِ نَنْگ است؟
وز نام چه پرسی که مرا نَنْگ ز نام است؟
Wine-drunk, bewildered, libertine, with wandering gaze
who in this city walks a different maze?
مِی‌خواره و سرگشته و رندیم و نَظَرباز
وان کس که چو ما نیست در این شهر، کُدام است؟
Don't fault my censor! He, like us, pursues with might
the constant pleasure of both day and night.
با مُحْتَسِبَم، عیب مگویید که او نیز
پیوسته، چو ما در طَلَبِ عیشِ مُدام است
Hafez! Sit not without wine and the Beloved near
for Rose and Jasmine bloom, and festival is here!
«حافظ»! منشین بی‌مِی و مَعشوق، زَمانی
کایَّامِ گُل و یاسَمَن و عیدِ صیام است
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem celebrates a perfect moment of joy (rose, wine, beloved). The verse 'in our religion, wine is lawful, but without your face it is forbidden' is a powerful statement about love's centrality. The playful wordplay about shame and name (nang/nam) shows linguistic cleverness. The observation that even the censor seeks pleasure is a witty critique of hypocrisy. The final call to celebrate during the festival (Eid) is a clear carpe diem message. The poem's celebratory tone and defense of honest pleasure make it very appealing.
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