Poem #81
English Translation
Persian
At dawn, the garden bird whispered to the newly-opened rose
'Less coquetry, my dear, for in this garden, many a beauty like you has bloomed and gone.'
صُبْحْدَم، مُرْغِ چَمَن با گلِ نوخاسْتِه گُفْت
ناز، کَم کُن که در این باغ، بَسی چون تو شِکُفْت
The rose laughed: 'Truth does not offend us
yet no true lover ever spoke such harsh words to their beloved.'
گُل بِخَنْدید که از راسْت نَرَنْجیم وَلی
هیچ عاشِق، سُخَنِ سَخْت به مَعْشوق نَگُفْت
If you desire the jeweled cup and ruby wine
know this: many a pearl must first be threaded upon your eyelashes' tip.
گَر طَمَع داری از آن جامِ مُرَصَّع، مِیِ لَعْل
ای بَسا دُر که به نوکِ مُژِه‌ات باید سُفْت
The fragrance of love shall never reach his soul
until he rubs his face in the dust of the tavern door.
تا اَبَد، بویِ مُحَبَّت به مَشامَش نَرَسَد
هر که خاکِ دَرِ مِیخانِه به رُخساره نَرُفْت
Last night in Iram's garden, the gentle air played
and the dawn breeze disheveled the hyacinth's curling tress.
دَر گُلِسْتانِ اِرَم، دوش، چو از لُطْفِ هَوا
زُلْفِ سُنْبُل به نَسیمِ سَحَری می‌آشُفْت
I asked the throne of Jamshid: 'Where is your world-seeing cup?'
It sighed: 'Alas, that wakeful fortune has fallen asleep!'
گفتم: «ای مَسْنَدِ جَم! جامِ جَهان‌بینَت کو؟»
گفت: «اَفسوس که آن دولتِ بیدار بِخُفْت!»
Love's tale is not for the tongue to tell
O Cupbearer, bring wine and cut short this endless talk.
سُخُنِ عِشْق، نَه آن است که آیَد به زَبان
ساقیا، مِی دِه و کوتاه کُن این گُفْت و شِنُفْت
Hafez's tears have cast wisdom and patience into the sea
What can he do? The burning grief of love could not be hidden.
اَشْکِ «حافِظ»، خِرَد و صَبْر به دَریا اَنْداخْت
چه کُنَد؟ سوزِ غَمِ عِشْق نَیارَسْت نَهُفْت
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 7/10. This poem contains a dialogue with a garden bird and references to Jam's cup (a legendary object). The verse about the rose laughing and no lover speaking harsh words to the beloved is a beautiful observation about love's gentleness. The verse about the 'wakeful fortune' sleeping is a poignant image of lost opportunity. The final verse about tears casting 'intellect and patience into the sea' is a powerful image of love's overwhelming nature. The poem's combination of natural imagery and emotional depth makes it engaging.
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