Ghazal 489

O you in whose face the lights of sovereignty are manifest —

in your thought are hidden a hundred divine wisdoms.

Your pen — God bless it — has opened upon kingdom and faith

a hundred springs of the Water of Life from a drop of black ink.

The lights of the Greatest Name do not shine upon the demon —

the kingdom is yours and the seal — command whatever you wish.

Whoever doubts the wisdom of Solomon —

the bird and fish will laugh at his reason and knowledge.

The falcon, though it sometimes wears a cap on its head —

the birds of Qaf know the manner of sovereignty.

The sword to which the sky gives water from its own grace —

alone it will conquer the world, without the favor of an army.

Your pen writes well in the matter of friend and stranger —

a life-giving talisman, a life-shortening spell.

O you whose element is created from the alchemy of honor —

O you whose fortune is safe from the stain of ruin.

Cupbearer, bring water from the spring of the tavern —

that we may wash our cloaks of the vanity of the monastery.

It has been a lifetime, O king, that my cup is empty of wine —

here is the claim from the servant, and from the morality-guard the witness.

If a ray from your sword should fall on mine and quarry,

it would give the red ruby the color of straw.

I know your heart will have mercy on the weakness of the night-sitters —

if you ask the state of your servant from the morning breeze.

In a place where the lightning of sin struck Adam the Pure —

how does it befit us to claim innocence?

Hafez — since your king sometimes mentions your name,

do not show resentment at fortune — come back to beg pardon.