Hafez · Ghazal 223 · Your image will never leave my heart
هرگزم نقش تو از لوح دل و جان نرودهرگز از یاد من آن سرو خرامان نرود
از دماغ من سرگشته خیال دهنتبه جفای فلک و غصه دوران نرود
در ازل بست دلم با سر زلفت پیوندتا ابد سر نکشد، وز سر پیمان نرود
هر چه جز بار غمت بر دل مسکین من استبرود از دل من وز دل من آن نرود
آن چنان مهر توام در دل و جان جای گرفتکه اگر سر برود، از دل و از جان نرود
گر رود از پی خوبان دل من معذور استدرد دارد چه کند کز پی درمان نرود
هر که خواهد که چو حافظ نشود سرگرداندل به خوبان ندهد وز پی ایشان نرود
This ghazal is a vow of faithfulness. Something or someone has made a home in your heart that time, hardship and the turning of the world will not remove. Hafez says that every other burden will lift in time; only this love remains, because it is part of who you are. If you are wondering whether a bond will last, the answer here is that a bond made from the depth of the heart endures. Do not reproach yourself for following what you love; a heart that aches will naturally seek its cure. Stay true and stay steady.
Never will your image leave the tablet of my heart and soul;
never will that swaying cypress leave my memory.
From my bewildered head the thought of your mouth
will not leave for all heaven's cruelty and the sorrows of the age.
In eternity my heart made its bond with the tip of your curl;
to eternity it will not turn away or break its pledge.
Whatever lies on my poor heart, except the burden of your grief,
will leave my heart; but that will never leave.
Your love has made its home so deep in my heart and soul
that if my head should go, it will not leave my heart and soul.
If my heart runs after the fair ones, it may be forgiven;
it has a pain: how could it not go after the cure?
Whoever does not wish to become bewildered like Hafez,
let him not give his heart to the fair, nor run after them.