Hafez · Ghazal 134 · A nightingale won a rose
بلبلی خون دلی خورد و گلی حاصل کردباد غیرت به صدش خار، پریشان‌دل کرد
طوطیی را به خیال شکری، دل‌خوش بودناگهش سیل فنا نقش امل، باطل کرد
قرة العین من، آن میوه دل، یادش بادکه چه آسان بشد و کار مرا مشکل کرد
ساروان! بار من افتاد، خدا را مددیکه امید کرمم همره این محمل کرد
روی خاکی و نم چشم مرا خوار مدارچرخ فیروزه طرب‌خانه از این کهگل کرد
آه و فریاد که از چشم حسود مه چرخدر لحد ماه کمان‌ابروی من منزل کرد
نزدی شاه‌رخ و فوت شد امکان حافظچه کنم؟ بازی ایام مرا غافل کرد
This ghazal was written in grief for someone dearly loved, and it may come to you when you are carrying a loss, or the fear of one. Hafez does not hurry the sorrow. He remembers, he asks the camel-driver for help, and he says: do not look down on a tear-stained face, for the heavens built their house of joy from this same clay. Let yourself remember with love, ask for the help you need, and trust that kindness travels with you on this road.
A nightingale drank the blood of its heart and won a rose;
the wind of jealousy, with a hundred thorns, left its heart in disarray.
A parrot's heart was glad with the thought of sugar;
suddenly the flood of mortality wiped away the picture of its hope.
The light of my eyes, that fruit of my heart, may his memory live:
how easily he went, and how hard he made my life.
Camel-driver, my load has fallen; for God's sake, help,
for hope of your kindness made me the companion of this litter.
Do not hold my dusty face and my wet eyes in contempt:
the turquoise wheel built its house of joy from this clay.
Ah, and alas, that through the envious eye of the moon of heaven,
my moon with bow-shaped brows has made his dwelling in the grave.
You did not make the castling move, and Hafez's chance was lost;
what can I do? The game of the days caught me unaware.