Ghazal 316

From the Divan of Hafez · 9 couplets

The Oracle Speaks

...

Do not give your tresses to the wind, lest you give me to the wind —

do not build a foundation of pride, lest you destroy my foundation.

Do not drink wine with everyone, lest I drink the blood of my liver —

do not toss your head, lest my cry rise to the sky.

Do not curl your tresses into rings, lest you put me in chains —

do not twist your locks, lest you give me to the wind.

Do not become the friend of strangers, lest you take me from myself —

do not grieve for others, lest you make me unhappy.

Light up your face, that you may free me from needing the rose —

raise your stature, that you may free me from the cypress.

Do not be the candle of every gathering, or else you will burn me —

do not remember every tribe, lest you go from my memory.

Do not become the talk of the city, lest I hide my head in the mountain —

do not show the madness of Shirin, lest you make me Farhad.

Have mercy on wretched me and come to my aid —

before my cry reaches the dust of Asaf's door.

Hafez — God forbid he should turn his face from your cruelty —

from the day I am in your bondage, I am free.

زُلف بَر باد مَده تا نَدَهی بَر بادَم

ناز بُنیاد مَکُن تا نَکَنی بُنیادَم

مِی مَخور با هَمه کَس تا نَخورَم خونِ جِگَر

سَر مَکِش تا نَکِشَد سَر به فَلَک فَریادَم

زُلف را حَلقه مَکُن تا نَکُنی دَر بَندَم

طُرّه را تاب مَده تا نَدَهی بَر بادَم

یارِ بیگانه مَشو تا نَبَری از خویشم

غَمِ اَغیار مَخور تا نَکُنی ناشادَم

رُخ بَراَفروز که فارغ کُنی اَز بَرگِ گُلم

قَد بَراَفراز که اَز سَروْ کُنی آزادَم

شَمعِ هَر جَمع مَشو وَر نَه بِسوزی ما را

یادِ هَر قوم مَکُن تا نَرَوی اَز یادَم

شُهرهٔ شَهر مَشو تا نَنَهَم سَر دَر کوه

شورِ شیرین مَنَما تا نَکُنی فَرهادَم

رَحم کُن بَر مَنِ مِسکین و بِه فَریادَم رَس

تا به خاکِ دَرِ آصِف نَرِسَد فَریادَم

حافظ از جورِ تو حاشا که بِگَرداند روی

مَن اَز آن روز که دَر بَندِ توام آزادَم

Source: Ganjoor.net

Reflect on This Poem

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  • 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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