Ghazal 259

I am the one who opened my eyes to the sight of the friend —

what thanks shall I give you, O gracious Solver of affairs?

O needy one of tribulation, do not wash the dust from your face —

for the alchemy of desire is the dust of the lane of need.

Do not turn the reins from the difficulties of the path, O heart! —

for the man of the road does not think of valley or peak.

If the lover does not make his ablution with the blood of his liver,

by the decree of love's mufti, his prayer is not valid.

In this place of metaphor, take nothing but the cup —

in this playhouse, play nothing but love.

With half a kiss, buy a prayer from a person of heart —

for it keeps the enemy's cunning far from your body and soul.

The melody of love was cast through Hejaz and Iraq —

the sound of Hafez's ghazals from Shiraz.