Poem #469
English Translation
Persian
Scent of the sanctuary's myrtle blows
passion increases, and the spirit knows.
أَتَتْ رَوائِحُ رَنْدِ الْحِمیٰ و زادَ غَرامی
فدای خاک در دوست باد جان گرامی
Hearing the Friend's message is health and bliss
who bears my greeting to a love like this?
پیام دوست شنیدن سعادت است و سلامت
مَنِ الْمُبَلِّغُ عَنّی إلی سُعادَ سلامی؟
Come to the strangers' night, behold my tear
like Syrian wine in glass, so pure and clear.
بیا به شام غریبان و آب دیدهٔ من بین
به سان بادهٔ صافی در آبگینهٔ شامی
If from Arak the happy bird should sing
my dove of sorrow spreads its mournful wing.
إذا تَغَرَّدَ عَن ذِی الْأَراکِ طائرُ خَیرٍ
فَلا تَفَرَّدَ عَن رَوضِها أَنینُ حَمامي
Separation ends, the dawn is drawing near
I see the tents of sanctuary appear.
بسی نماند که روز فراق یار سر آید
رَأَیْتُ مِن هَضَباتِ الْحِمیٰ قِبابَ خِیامِ
Happy the moment when you enter in
'Best of arrivals!' does the joy begin.
خوشا دمی که درآیی و گویمت به سلامت
قَدِمْتَ خَیْرَ قُدومٍ نَزَلْتَ خَیْرَ مَقامِ
Far from your face, I wane like the new moon
though never fully seen, you fade too soon.
بَعِدْتُ مِنْکَ وَ قَدْ صِرْتُ ذائباً کَهِلالٍ
اگر چه روی چو ماهت ندیده‌ام به تمامی
If Paradise were offered for my vow
without you, joy would not be mine, I trow.
وَ إِن دُعِیتُ بِخُلْدٍ وَ صِرْتُ ناقِضَ عَهْدٍ
فما تَطَیَّبَ نَفْسی وَ ما اسْتَطابَ مَنامي
I hope to see you soon with fortune's smile
you in command, I serving all the while.
امید هست که زودت به بخت نیک ببینم
تو شاد گشته به فرماندهی و من به غلامی
Hafez, your verse is strung like pearls of light
even Nizami bows before its might.
چو سِلْک دُرّ خوشاب است شعر نغز تو حافظ
که گاه لطف سبق می‌برد ز نظم نظامی
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 9/10. This poem contains extensive Arabic phrases and expresses longing and hope. The Arabic phrases add significant cultural depth. The reference to Nizami adds cultural depth. The verse about 'the fragrances of the myrtle of the sanctuary coming and passion increasing' is a powerful statement. The observation that Hafez's 'pleasant poetry sometimes takes precedence in kindness from the poetry of Nizami' is a striking statement. The poem's combination of Arabic phrases and emotional expression makes it very engaging.
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