Poem #6
English Translation
Persian
Who will bear this prayer to the Sultan's court so bright?
'In thanks for your kingship, drive not the beggar from your sight!'
به مُلازِمانِ سلطان، که رساند این دعا را؟
که به شُکرِ پادشاهی، زِ نظر مَران گدا را
From the rival, devil-natured, I seek refuge in my Lord,
unless a piercing meteor strikes him with God's own sword!
ز رقیبِ دیوسیرت، به خدای خود پناهم
مَگَر آن شهابِ ثاقِب مددی دهد، خدا را!
If your dark eyebrow signals for my blood to flow,
beware of its deception, my Love, and let it not be so.
مُژِه‌یِ سیاهت اَرْ کرد به خونِ ما اشارت
ز فریبِ او بیندیش و غلط مکن، نگارا
You burn the world's heart when your cheek's fire you display,
what profit do you gain, to turn your mercy away?
دلِ عالمی بِسوزی چُو عِذار بَرفُروزی
تو از این چه سود داری، که نمی‌کنی مدارا؟
All night I wait in hope that the breeze of dawn might bring,
a message from the familiar ones, to make the familiar sing.
همه‌شب در این اُمیدم که نسیمِ صبحگاهی
به پیام آشنایان، بنوازد آشنا را
What a resurrection day you showed to lovers, O my Soul!
My heart and life are yours; unveil your face, make me whole.
چه قیامت است جانا، که به عاشقان نمودی؟
دل و جان فدای رویت، بِنَما عِذار ما را
By God, give a draught to Hafez, who rises before the day,
for his morning prayer may reach you, in a blessed way.
به خدا، که جرعه‌ای دِه تو به حافظِ سحرخیز
که دعایِ صبحگاهی، اثری کند شما را
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 6/10. This poem is more conventional in its love imagery (eyebrows, cheeks, rival) and courtly language (sultan, courtiers). The theme of unrequited love and the beloved's cruelty is standard in Persian poetry. The reference to 'resurrection' (qiyamat) for seeing the beloved is a strong metaphor. The poem's appeal is somewhat limited by its more traditional structure and less universal themes, though the emotional intensity is clear. The courtly context may be less immediately engaging for modern Western readers.
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