Ghazal 11

Cupbearer, light up our cup with the glow of wine —

minstrel, sing! For the world has turned to our desire.

We have seen the reflection of the beloved’s face in the cup —

O you unaware of the pleasure of our endless drinking!

Never shall that one die whose heart is alive with love —

our permanence is inscribed in the ledger of the world.

Let those tall, graceful ones show as much coquetry as they wish,

until our own pine-striding cypress comes swaying into view.

O wind, if you pass through the garden of the beloved,

take heed — present our message to the soul’s darling.

Say: why do you deliberately erase our name from memory?

The time will come when you will not recall our name at all.

Drunkenness suits the eyes of our heart-binding beauty —

that is why they have entrusted the reins to our intoxication.

I fear that on the Day of Reckoning, no advantage will be gained —

the sheikh’s lawful bread over our forbidden water.

Hafez, from your eye scatter a seed of tears —

perhaps the bird of union may seek our snare.

The green sea of the sky and the crescent’s ship

are all drowned in the bounty of our patron, Haji Qavam.