Ghazal 484

You must be sitting by a stream out of desire —

otherwise every sedition you see is all from yourself.

By the God whose chosen servant you are —

do not choose anyone over this old devotee.

If I carry the trust safely, there is no worry —

being heartless is easy if it is not being faithless.

Your modesty and shame made you the sovereign of moon-faces —

blessings on you, for you are worthy of a hundred times more.

Strange is your grace, O rose, that you sit with the thorn —

apparently you see the wisdom of the time in it.

What can I do but bear patience with the cruelty of your rival? —

lovers have no choice but humility.

A morning breeze rose from the garden in devotion to you —

for you are sweeter than the rose and fresher than the briar.

If you sit for a moment at this vantage of vision,

see the glass-play of my tears from left and right.

Hear a selfless word from a sincere servant —

O you who are the object of the great ones' vision of truth.

A graceful one like you, pure of heart and clean of nature —

it is better that you do not sit with bad people.

The flood of these flowing tears took the patience and heart of Hafez —

my endurance has reached its limit, O pupil of my eye, look.

You, with this delicacy and pride, O candle of Chegel —

are fit for the servitude of Khajeh Jalal al-Din.