Ghazal 434

O heart, do not be for a moment free of love and drunkenness —

and then go, for you are saved from nonexistence and existence.

If you see life in the body, become occupied with her work —

any direction you find is better than self-worship.

With weakness and feebleness, be pleasant like the breeze —

sickness on this road is better than health.

In the creed of the Way, rawness is the sign of infidelity —

yes, the path of fortune is agility and alertness.

As long as you see learning and reason, you sit without gnosis —

I will tell you one point: do not think you are saved.

At the beloved's threshold, do not think of the sky —

for from the height of pride you will fall to the lowly dust.

Though the thorn diminishes life, the rose will beg its pardon —

the bitterness of wine is easy beside the joy of drunkenness.

The Sufi measures out cups, Hafez abstains from the flask —

O you short-sleeved ones, how long will you be long-handed?