Poem #480
English Translation
Persian
O You who show no mercy when you slay
burning my harvest in a single day!
ای که در کشتن ما هیچ مدارا نکنی
سود و سرمایه بسوزی و محابا نکنی
Lovers drink poison from the cup of woe;
Beware their sighs, if you would safety know.
دردمندان بلا زهر هلاهل دارند
قصد این قوم خطا باشد هان تا نکنی
A glance could cure the sickness of my soul;
Is it not just to make the broken whole?
رنج ما را که توان برد به یک گوشهٔ چشم
شرط انصاف نباشد که مداوا نکنی
My eyes are seas of hope for your return;
Why not pass by the shore for which I burn?
دیدهٔ ما چو به امید تو دریاست، چرا
به تفرج گذری بر لب دریا نکنی؟
Stories of cruelty that people tell
are lies of envy—You do all things well.
نقل هر جور که از خلق کریمت کردند
قول صاحب غرضان است تو آن‌ها نکنی
Ascetic! If my Love appeared to you
you'd pray to wine and idols, false and true.
بر تو گر جلوه کند شاهد ما ای زاهد
از خدا جز می و معشوق تمنا نکنی
Hafez, bow down to that arched eyebrow fair;
Truth finds no other altar for its prayer.
حافظا سجده به ابروی چو محرابش بر
که دعایی ز سر صدق جز آن جا نکنی
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem expresses plea and devotion. The verse about asking 'why don't you do a passing to viewing on the lip of the sea' when 'our eye is a sea to the hope of yours' is a powerful statement. The observation that Hafez is told 'prostration to the eyebrow like the prayer niche, for prayer from the head of truth, don't do except there' is a striking statement. The poem's combination of plea and devotion makes it very engaging.
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