Ghazal 223

From the Divan of Hafez · 7 couplets

The Oracle Speaks

...

Never will your image leave the tablet of my heart and soul —

never will that swaying cypress leave my memory.

From the mind of this bewildered one, the fancy of your mouth

will not leave, despite the sky's cruelty and time's grief.

In pre-eternity my heart made a bond with the tip of your tresses —

until eternity it will not pull away, nor leave its covenant.

Whatever besides the burden of your grief is on my poor heart —

it will leave my heart, but that will never leave.

So firmly has your love taken its place in my heart and soul

that if my head should go, it will not leave my heart and soul.

If my heart goes after beauties, it is excused —

it has a pain: what can it do if it goes seeking a cure?

Whoever wishes not to become bewildered like Hafez —

let him not give his heart to beauties, nor go after them.

هرگزم نقشِ تو از لوحِ دل و جان نَرَوَد

هرگز از یادِ من آن سروِ خرامان نَرَوَد

از دِماغِ مَنِ سرگشته خیالِ دَهَنَت

به جفایِ فلک و غُصهٔ دوران نرود

در ازل بست دلم با سرِ زلفت پیوند

تا ابد سر نَکشَد، وز سرِ پیمان نرود

هر چه جز بارِ غمت بر دلِ مسکینِ من است

برود از دلِ من وز دلِ من آن نرود

آن چُنان مِهر توام در دل و جان جای گرفت

که اگر سر برود، از دل و از جان نرود

گر رَوَد از پِی خوبان دلِ من معذور است

درد دارد چه کُنَد کز پِی درمان نرود

هر که خواهد که چو حافظ نشود سرگردان

دل به خوبان ندهد وز پِی ایشان نرود

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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