Ghazal 452

Humanity and fairy-kind are parasites on the existence of love —

show a devotion, that you may carry away a felicity.

Strive, O master, and be not without a share of love —

for no one buys a servant with the fault of having no art.

Morning wine and the sweet sleep of dawn — how long?

Strive for a midnight excuse and a dawn weeping.

What a wonder you are, O sweet-working royal rider —

for you are before the eye, yet absent from sight.

A thousand holy souls burned from this jealousy —

that every morning and evening you are the candle of another's assembly.

Who will carry my message from me to the court of Asaf?

That you may learn two verses from me in Persian poetry.

Come — for the way of the world, as I have seen it —

if you test it, you will drink wine and not eat grief.

May your cap of sovereignty never be crooked on the head of beauty —

for you are the ornament of fortune and worthy of a kingdom and a crown.

By the scent of your tresses and face they go and come —

the breeze to musk-rubbing, and the rose to displaying.

Since you are not prepared for vision, do not seek union —

for the Cup of Jam gives no benefit at the time of blindness.

The prayer of the recluses turns away calamity —

why do you not glance at us with the corner of your eye?

Come and buy sovereignty from us with the capital of beauty —

and do not be heedless of this transaction, or you will lose.

The path of love is a wondrous, dangerous path —

God forbid if you do not reach the destination.

By the blessing of Hafez's aspiration, there is hope that again —

I may see myself passing the night with Layla on a moonlit night.