Ghazal 439

I saw in a dream last night that a moon arose —

from the reflection of whose face the night of separation came to an end.

The interpretation was: The friend who traveled is arriving —

would that as soon as possible she would come through the door.

Blessings upon my auspicious-omened cupbearer —

who always came through the door with cup and goblet.

It would have been sweet if in sleep you had seen your homeland —

so that the memory of her company would have guided her back to us.

If the grace of eternity came to hand by force and gold,

the Water of Khezr would have been the portion of Alexander.

May that time be remembered — when from roof and door

every moment the beloved's message and the beauty's letter came to me.

When would your rival have found so much opportunity for oppression? —

if one night the oppressed one had come to the door of the judge.

The raw who have not traveled the road — what do they know of love's joy? —

seek one of sea-heart, a bold one who has come to the summit.

That one who guided you to stone-heartedness —

would that his foot had struck against a stone.

If another had written in the manner of Hafez,

it would have been pleasing to the taste of the art-nurturing king.