Ghazal 203

For years our book was in pawn to wine —

the tavern's prosperity came from our lessons and our prayers.

See the goodness of the Old Magian — for us bad-drunkards,

whatever we did was beautiful in his generous eye.

Wash our book of learning entirely with wine,

for I saw the sky, and it intended harm for the wise heart.

Seek from beauties what you will, if you know beauty, O heart —

for this was said by one who had true sight in the science of seeing.

The heart, like a compass, was turning in every direction,

and in that circle remained bewildered yet firmly planted.

The minstrel was performing a work from the pain of love

that made the sages of the world's eyelashes filter blood.

I was blooming with joy because, like a flower at a stream's edge,

the shadow of that upright cypress fell upon my head.

My rose-colored elder did not give permission to slander the blue-clad —

otherwise there would be many tales to tell.

The gilded counterfeit coin of Hafez was not spent before him,

for this dealer had vision for every hidden flaw.