Hafez · Ghazal 204 · Remember when
یاد باد آن که نهانت نظری با ما بودرقم مهر تو بر چهره ما پیدا بود
یاد باد آن که چو چشمت به عتابم می‌کشتمعجز عیسویت در لب شکرخا بود
یاد باد آن که صبوحی زده در مجلس انسجز من و یار نبودیم و خدا با ما بود
یاد باد آن که رخت شمع طرب می‌افروختوین دل سوخته پروانه ناپروا بود
یاد باد آن که در آن بزمگه خلق و ادبآن که او خنده مستانه زدی صهبا بود
یاد باد آن که چو یاقوت قدح خنده زدیدر میان من و لعل تو حکایت‌ها بود
یاد باد آن که نگارم چو کمر بربستیدر رکابش مه نو پیک جهان پیما بود
یاد باد آن که خرابات نشین بودم و مستوآنچه در مسجدم امروز کم است آنجا بود
یاد باد آن که به اصلاح شما می‌شد راستنظم هر گوهر ناسفته که حافظ را بود
This tender ghazal is a string of memories, each beginning "remember when." Perhaps your question touches something precious from the past, a friendship, a love, a time when you felt that God was with you. Hafez does not mourn bitterly; he blesses those memories and honours what they taught him. Let your past nourish you rather than hold you back. What was real then has shaped the person you are. Carry its warmth into the present, and look for that same sincerity and closeness in the life before you now.
Remember when you had a secret glance for us,
and the mark of your love was plain upon our face.
Remember when your eye would kill me with reproach,
and the miracle of Jesus was in your sugar-sweet lip.
Remember when, drinking at dawn in the gathering of intimates,
there was no one but me and the beloved, and God was with us.
Remember when your face would light the candle of joy,
and this burned heart was a fearless moth.
Remember when, in that feast of good nature and courtesy,
the only one who laughed a drunken laugh was the wine.
Remember when you laughed like the ruby of the cup,
and between me and your ruby lip there were stories.
Remember when my beloved tied on her belt,
the new moon in her stirrup was a messenger that crossed the world.
Remember when I dwelt in the tavern and was drunk,
and what is missing in my mosque today was there.
Remember when, by your correction, every unpierced pearl
that Hafez had was set in its proper string.