Poem #463
English Translation
Persian
God's peace be yours as long as nights repeat
as long as stars in ancient cycles meet.
سَلامُ اللّهِ ما کَرَّ اللَّیالي
و جاوَبَتِ الْمثاني و الْمِثالي
Peace on Arak, and those who wander there
on Lawa's house, upon the sands so bare.
عَلیٰ وادِي الْأَراک و مَن عَلَیها
و دارٍ بِاللَّویٰ فوقَ الرِّمالِ
I pray for strangers in this world of pain
calling on God again and yet again.
دعاگوی غریبان جهانم
و أَدعُو بِالتَّواتُر و التَّوالي
Wherever he goes, may God his guardian be
kept safe by grace for all eternity.
به هر منزل که رو آرد خدا را نگه دارش
به لطف لایزالی
My heart, complain not of the tangled snare
all peace is found within that chaotic hair.
منال ای دل که در زنجیر زلفش
همه جمعیت است آشفته حالی
Your downy cheek adds beauty to the store
may life be yours for a hundred years and more.
ز خطت صد جمال دیگر افزود
که عمرت باد صد سال جلالی
You must exist! The rest is slight and small
wealth, rank, and fame—I gladly lose them all.
تو می‌باید که باشی ور نه سهل است
زیانِ مایهٔ جاهی و مالی
Praise to the Painter whose almighty hand
drew the moon's curve to circle where you stand.
بر آن نقاش قدرت آفرین باد
که گرد مه کشد خط هلالی
Your love is comfort when the days are long
your memory my companion and my song.
فَحُبُّک راحَتي في کُلِّ حینٍ
و ذِکرُک مونِسي في کُلِّ حالِ
My heart's deep core, until the Judgment Day
shall brim with love that never fades away.
سویدای دل من تا قیامت مباد
از شوق و سودای تو خالی
Where can a wretch like me find union's bliss
with such a King? I ask no more than this.
کجا یابم وصال چون تو شاهی
من بدنامِ رندِ لااُبالی
God knows the secret aim of Hafez' quest
His knowledge serves; I need not ask the rest.
خدا داند که حافظ را غرض چیست
و عِلْمُ اللّهِ حَسْبي مِن سُؤالي
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 9/10. This poem contains extensive Arabic phrases and expresses devotion. The Arabic phrases add significant cultural depth. The verse about 'your love being my comfort in every moment and your memory being my companion in every state' is a powerful statement. The observation that Hafez says 'God knows what the purpose of Hafez is' and 'the knowledge of God is sufficient for me from asking' is a profound statement. The poem's combination of Arabic phrases and devotion makes it very engaging.
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