Translations of the Ghazals of Hafiz
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1
Ho! 0 Saki, pass around and offer the bowl (of love for God):
For (the burden of) love (for God) at first (on the day of covenant) appeared easy, but (now) difficulties have occurred.
By reason of the perfume (hope) of the musk-pod, that, at the end (of night),the breeze displayeth from that (knotted) fore-lock,-
From the twist of its musky (dark, fragrant) curl, what blood (of grief) befell the hearts (of the lovers of God) !
With wine, becolour the prayer-mat-if the Pir of the magians (the perfect
murshid) bid thee;
For of the way and usage of the stages (to, God) not without knowledge is the holy traveller (the perfect
murshid).
In the stage (this world) of the (true) Beloved,-mine what ease and pleasure, when
momently,
The (loud) bell (of the call of death) giveth voice, saying:-" Bind ye up the chattels of existence!"
The dark night (of the world), and the fear of the wave (of grief), and the whirlpool so fearful (the time of death).
The light-burdened ones of the shore (ancestors who have passed the flood of death),-how know they our state ?
By following my own fancy (in hastening to union with God), me (only) to ill fame all my work brought:
Secret,-how remaineth that great mystery (of love) whereof (great) assemblies speak?
Hafiz, if thou desire the presence (union with God Most High)-from Him be not absent:
When thou visitest thy Beloved, abandon the world; and let it go. |
Translator:
Clarke, H. W. (1974). The Divan of Hafiz. London: Octagon
Press.
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