Ghazal 441

How would it have been if the heart of that moon were kind? —

for our state would not have been thus, if it had been so.

I would have said: What is the worth of a breeze from the friend's tresses? —

if for each hair I had a thousand lives.

How would the decree of our happiness have been diminished, O Lord,

if it had borne the seal of safety from the evil of time?

If time had held me honored and exalted,

my throne of honor would have been the dust of that threshold.

Would that from behind the veil she had come out like a teardrop —

for over these two eyes of ours, her command runs free.

If the circle of love had not blocked the way,

like a point, Hafez would have been bewildered in the middle.