Ghazal 257

Show your face, and tell me: give up your life for the soul.

Before the candle, say: let the moth's fire take hold of the soul.

Look at our thirsty lip, and do not withhold the water —

come to your slain one, and lift him from the dust.

Do not despise the dervish if he has no silver and gold —

in your grief, count his tears as silver and his cheek as gold.

Play the harp and make music — if there is no incense, what matter? —

take my love as fire, my heart as aloe-wood, my body as censer.

Come to the mystic dance, cast the cloak from your head and dance —

or else go to a corner and pull our cloak over your head.

Cast the wool from your head and drink clear wine —

open your purse and take a silver-limbed beauty in your arms for gold.

Tell the friend: Be my companion — and let both worlds be the enemy.

Tell fortune: Do not turn your back — take the army of the earth's face.

Do not incline to go, O friend — stay a moment with us —

on the bank of the stream, seek joy, and hold the goblet in hand.

Consider me gone from your side — and from the fire and water of heart and eye,

take my face as yellow, my lip as dry, my lap as wet.

Hafez, adorn the gathering and tell the preacher:

See my assembly and abandon the top of the pulpit.