Ghazal 200

Do you know what the harp and lute declare?

Drink wine in secret, for they punish the open drinker.

They ruin the honor of love and the dignity of lovers —

they blame the young and rebuke the old.

Nothing was gained but a darkened heart, and still

they are deluded in this fancy that they are making the elixir.

They say: Do not speak or hear the mystery of love —

it is a difficult tale that they are telling.

We, standing outside the door, are beguiled by a hundred tricks —

who knows what scheme they devise behind the curtain.

They are disturbing the time of the Old Magian again —

look at what these travelers are doing to the master.

A hundred kingdoms of the heart can be bought with half a glance —

beauties are negligent in this transaction.

One group set about finding the friend through effort and striving —

another group leaves it to destiny.

In sum, do not trust the stability of this world,

for this is a workshop where they constantly make changes.

Drink wine — for the sheikh, and Hafez, and the mufti, and the morals-officer,

when you look closely, all practice deception.