Poem #79
English Translation
Persian
Now paradise's breeze blows fresh from garden air
it leaves me with bright wine and a friend of houri hair.
کُنون که می‌دَمَد از بوستان، نَسْیمِ بِهِشْت
مَن و شَرابِ فَرَح‌بَخْش و یارِ حورسِرِشْت
Why should a beggar not boast monarchy today
the cloud becomes our tent and the revel's at the field-side way.
گِدا چِرا نَزَنَد لافِ سَلْطَنَت، امروز؟
که خِیْمِه، سایِهٔ اَبْر است و بَزْمْگَه، لَبِ کِشْت
The meadow sings the tale of April's blossomed heaven
no sage would buy on credit and pay in cash for heaven.
چَمَن، حِکایَتِ اُرْدیبِهِشْت می‌گوید
نَه عاقِل است که نِسْیِه، خَرید و نَقْد، بِهِشْت
Raise up the heart with wine, for this world's ruinous gust
is bent on shaping bricks from our departing dust.
بِه مِی، عِمارَتِ دِل کُن که این جَهانِ خَراب
بَر آن سَر است که از خاکِ ما بِسازَد خِشْت
Seek not a foe for loyalty, no light will ever ramp
like candles lit in cloisters borrow nothing from a kirkish lamp.
وَفا مَجوی ز دُشْمَن که پَرتوی نَدَهَد
چو شَمْعِ صومعه‌اَفْروزی از چِراغِ کِنِشْت
Do not reproach my drunken soul with letters blacked somehow
it knows what fate once etched upon its destined brow.
مَکُن به نامه‌سیاهی، مَلامَتِ مَنِ مَسْت
که آگَه است که تَقْدیر بر سَرَش چه نِوِشْت؟
Withhold no step from Hafez' bier however vice
for though he swims in sin he still proceeds to paradise.
قَدَم، دَریغ مَدار از جِنازِهٔ «حافِظ»
که گرچه غَرْقِ گُناه است می‌رَوَد به بِهِشْت
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 7/10. This poem contains carpe diem philosophy and observations about the world's transience. The verse about the world being 'ruined' and 'on that head is that from our dust it will make brick' is a striking image of mortality. The observation that it's not wise to 'buy on credit and give cash for paradise' is a witty statement about living in the present. The reference to the monastery candle and church lamp adds Christian context. The final verse's confidence that Hafez will go to paradise despite being 'drowned in sin' is bold. The poem's combination of worldly wisdom and spiritual confidence makes it engaging.
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