Poem #486
English Translation
Persian
Last night the nightingale, upon the cypress spray
Sang Pahlavi's sweet song of spirit's mystic way.
بلبل، ز شاخِ سرو، به گلبانگِ پهلوی
می‌خوانْد دوش، درسِ مقاماتِ معنوی
"Come now!" it sang, "The Rose glows with the fire of the Lord
From off the Burning Bush, hear Unity's true word."
یعنی بیا، که آتشِ موسی، نمود گل
تا از درخت، نکتهٔ توحید بشنوی
The garden birds engage in rhyme and witty play
That the Master may drink wine to ancient Pahlavi lay.
مرغان باغ، قافیه‌سنجند و بذله‌گوی
تا خواجه مِی خورَد، به غزل‌های پهلوی
Jamshid took nothing from this world except the story of his Cup
Beware! Set not your heart on things that Time will swallow up.
جمشید، جز حکایتِ جام، از جهان نبُرد
زنهار! دل مَبَند، بر اسبابِ دنیوی
Hear this strange tale of how our fortune turned around
By Jesus' healing breath, the Lover struck us to the ground.
این قصهٔ عجب شِنو از بختِ واژگون
ما را بِکُشت یار، به انفاسِ عیسوی
How sweet the beggar's mat, the sleep in safety found
Such joy is not for kings who sit on thrones renown'd.
خوش، وقتِ بوریا و گدایی و خوابِ امن
کاین عیش، نیست درخورِ اورنگِ خسروی
Your eye with coquetry has laid the people's houses low
Let not your drunkenness increase, for drunk you lovely go.
چشمت، به غمزه، خانهٔ مردم خراب کرد
مخموریَت مباد، که خوش مست می‌روی
How well the aged farmer spoke unto his son one morn
"O light of my eyes! You shall not reap but what is born of corn."
دهقان سال‌خورده، چه خوش گفت با پسر
کای نورِ چشمِ من! به جز از کِشته، ندرَوی
O Cupbearer, perhaps Hafez has drunk a glass too deep
For see, the Master's turban falls, and order cannot keep.
ساقی، مگر وظیفهٔ حافظ، زیاده داد
کآشفته گشت، طرهٔ دستارِ مولوی
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem contains cultural references and expresses wisdom. The references to Moses, Jamshid, and Mawlana add cultural depth. The verse about 'the nightingale singing the lesson of spiritual stations from the branch of the cypress in Pahlavi song' is a powerful statement. The observation that Hafez is told 'perhaps the duty of Hafez gave excess, for the tress of Mawlana's turban became disturbed' is a striking statement. The poem's combination of cultural references and wisdom makes it very engaging.
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