Ghazal 123

From the Divan of Hafez · 9 couplets

The Oracle Speaks

...

The minstrel of love plays a wondrous tune —

each note he strikes finds its way to a place.

May the world never be empty of lovers' laments,

for it holds a sweet melody and a joy-giving air.

Our old dregs-drinking master, though he has no gold or power,

has a generous, fault-forgiving God.

Hold my heart in honor, for this sugar-seeking fly,

since it became your devotee, holds the glory of the Homa.

It would not be far from justice if the king inquired after the state

of a beggar who dwells beside his neighbor.

I showed my bloody tears to the physicians — they said:

It is the pain of love, and it has a liver-burning cure.

Do not learn cruelty from her glance, for in the creed of love

every deed has its reward, and every action its recompense.

That Christian-born idol of wine-worship spoke beautifully:

Drink to the joy of one whose face holds purity.

O sovereign, Hafez the threshold-dweller recites the Fatiha

and from your tongue desires a prayer.

مطربِ عشق عجب ساز و نوایی دارد

نقشِ هر نغمه که زد راه به جایی دارد

عالَم از نالهٔ عُشّاق مبادا خالی

که خوش‌آهنگ و فرح‌بخش هوایی دارد

پیر دُردی‌کَش ما گرچه ندارد زر و زور

خوش عطابخش و خطاپوش خدایی دارد

محترم دار دلم کاین مگسِ قندپَرست

تا هواخواهِ تو شد فَرِّ هُمایی دارد

از عدالت نَبُوَد دور گَرَش پُرسد حال

پادشاهی که به همسایه گدایی دارد

اشکِ خونین بنمودم به طبیبان گفتند

دردِ عشق است و جگرسوز دوایی دارد

ستم از غمزه میاموز که در مذهبِ عشق

هر عمل اجری و هر کرده جزایی دارد

نغز گفت آن بتِ ترسابچهٔ باده‌پرست

شادیِ رویِ کسی خور که صفایی دارد

خسروا حافظ درگاه‌نشین فاتحه خواند

وز زبان تو تمنای دعایی دارد

Source: Ganjoor.net

Reflect on This Poem

If this ghazal appeared as your reading today, consider:

  • Which line stirred something in you — comfort, longing, or unease?
  • What question were you holding when you arrived at this page?
  • What is this poem asking you to release or embrace?

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