Ghazal 246

It is the feast, and the last of the rose, and friends are waiting —

cupbearer, look at the king's face, see the moon, and bring wine.

I had given up hope of the days of the rose, but

the aspiration of the pure ones of fasting did its work.

Do not bind your heart to the world — in drunkenness, ask

of the grace of the cup and the tale of Jamshid the fortunate.

I have nothing in hand but the coin of my life — where is wine?

For even that I would scatter at the cupbearer's wink.

What a joyful fortune, and what a generous king —

O Lord, protect him from the evil eye of time.

Drink wine to the verse of your servant — for it gives another beauty

to your jeweled cup, with this royal pearl.

If the pre-dawn meal was missed, there is still the morning drink —

seekers of the beloved break their fast with wine.

Since the veil-covering of your generous forgiveness is such,

forgive our counterfeit — for it is a coin of low assay.

I fear that on Judgment Day, rein beside rein will go:

the sheikh's rosary and the cloak of the wine-drinking rend.

Hafez, since the fast has gone and the rose is going too,

perforce drink wine — for the work has slipped from hand.