Poem #49
English Translation
Persian
The highest paradise's garden is where dervishes retreat
the source of dignity lies in serving at their feet.
روضهٔ خُلدِ برین خلوتِ درویشان است
مایهٔ مُحتشمی، خدمتِ درویشان است
The treasure of seclusion holds such wondrous spells
its opening lies in dervish mercy's wells.
گَنج عُزلت که طِلِسماتِ عجایب دارد
فتحِ آن در نظرِ رحمتِ درویشان است
Paradise's palace, where Ridwan guards the door
is but a vista from the dervish garden's store.
قصرِ فردوس که رضوانش به دَربانی رفت
مَنظَری از چمنِ نُزهَتِ درویشان است
What turns to gold from that dark heart's radiant gleam
is the elixir found in dervish company's supreme.
آن چه زر می‌شود از پرتو آن قلبِ سیاه
کیمیاییست که در صحبتِ درویشان است
The one before whom the Sun lays down pride's golden crown
is greatness found in dervish dignity's renown.
آن که پیشش بِنَهَد تاجِ تکبر، خورشید
کبریاییست که در حِشمتِ درویشان است
The fortune that fears not decline's grievous fall
effortlessly, the dervish fortune conquers all.
دولتی را که نباشد غم از آسیبِ زَوال
بی‌تَکَلُف بشنو، دولتِ درویشان است
Kings are the qibla for the world's every need
yet dervish servitude is the cause indeed.
خسروان، قبلهٔ حاجاتِ جهانند ولی
سببش بندگیِ حضرتِ درویشان است
The desired face that kings seek through their prayer
reflects within the dervish countenance so fair.
رویِ مقصود که شاهان به دعا می‌طَلبند
مَظهَرَش آینهٔ طَلعَتِ درویشان است
From shore to shore, oppression's army holds its sway
from endless past to endless future, dervishes hold the day.
از کران تا به کران، لشکر ظُلم است ولی
از اَزَل تا به اَبَد، فرصتِ درویشان است
O wealthy one! Sell not such pride so great
your head and gold rest in the dervish's generous state.
ای توانگر مَفُروش این همه نِخوَت که تو را
سر و زر در کَنَفِ همتِ درویشان است
Qarun's treasure sinking from such wrathful might
you may have read—from dervish jealousy's spite.
گنجِ قارون که فرو می‌شود از قَهر هنوز
خوانده باشی که هم از غِیرتِ درویشان است
Hafez! If you seek Life's eternal water bright
its source: the dust of dervish threshold's sacred site.
حافظ ار آبِ حیاتِ اَزَلی می‌خواهی
مَنبَعَش خاکِ درِ خلوتِ درویشان است
I am slave to my Asif's gaze, who bears the grace
of mastery's form and dervish character's embrace.
من غلامِ نظرِ آصِفِ عهدم کو را
صورتِ خواجگی و سیرتِ درویشان است
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 7/10. This poem is a profound meditation on the spiritual value of dervishes (Sufi mystics). The verse 'from eternity to eternity, the opportunity of dervishes is' is a powerful statement about spiritual permanence versus worldly transience. The reference to Qarun's treasure sinking from dervishes' jealousy adds biblical resonance. The poem's elevation of the humble dervish over kings and wealth is a radical spiritual statement that may resonate with Western readers interested in mysticism. The final verse about the water of eternal life being in the dust of dervishes' door is a beautiful mystical image.
Related Poems
"My heart is leaving my hands—O wise-hearted ones, for God's sake! **** Alas, that the hidden secret will become manifest"
"O Sufi, come, for the cup is a clear mirror, **** so that you may see the clarity of the ruby-colored wine"
"O cupbearer, arise and pour the cup, **** put dust on the head of the grief of days"
"Don't seek obedience and covenant and righteousness from me, the drunk **** for I became famous for cup-measuring on the..."