Ghazal 353

I will not abandon the love of beauty and the goblet —

a hundred times I repented, and I will not do it again.

The garden of paradise and the shadow of the Tree and the palace and the houris —

I do not trade them for the dust of the friend's lane.

The teaching and lesson of the people of vision is a single sign —

I spoke one allusion, and I will not repeat it.

I can never be aware of what is above my head

until I raise my head in the midst of the tavern.

The advisor said scornfully: Go, abandon love —

there is no need for argument, brother — I will not.

The sum of my piety is this: that with the beauties of the city

I do not flirt and preen from the top of the pulpit.

Hafez! The court of the Magian elder is a place of fortune —

I will not abandon kissing the dust of this door.