Hafez · Ghazal 248 · Breeze, bring me a fragrance
ای صبا نکهتی از کوی فلانی به من آرزار و بیمار غمم راحت جانی به من آر
قلب بی‌حاصل ما را بزن اکسیر مرادیعنی از خاک در دوست نشانی به من آر
در کمینگاه نظر با دل خویشم جنگ استز ابرو و غمزه او تیر و کمانی به من آر
در غریبی و فراق و غم دل پیر شدمساغر می ز کف تازه جوانی به من آر
منکران را هم از این می دو سه ساغر بچشانوگر ایشان نستانند روانی به من آر
ساقیا عشرت امروز به فردا مفکنیا ز دیوان قضا خط امانی به من آر
دلم از دست بشد دوش چو حافظ می‌گفتکای صبا نکهتی از کوی فلانی به من آر
You may feel tired, as if long separation and worry have aged your heart, and you are asking for some small sign that would bring relief. Hafez asks the breeze for just that: a fragrance, a token, a breath of something fresh and young. The central counsel is in the sixth couplet: do not put off today's happiness until tomorrow, for no one holds a guarantee from fate. Open yourself to what can refresh you now, a friend, a walk, a small joy. Ease of the soul often arrives in simple forms.
O breeze, bring me a fragrance from a certain someone's lane;
I am weak and sick with grief: bring me some ease for the soul.
Touch our worthless heart with the elixir of desire;
that is, bring me some sign from the dust of the Friend's door.
In the ambush of the gaze I am at war with my own heart;
bring me a bow and arrow from her eyebrow and her glance.
In exile, in parting, in the heart's grief, I have grown old;
bring me a cup of wine from the hand of someone fresh and young.
Give the deniers two or three cups of this wine as well;
and if they will not take it, bring it straight to me.
Saqi, do not put off today's pleasure until tomorrow,
or else bring me a written warrant of safety from the court of fate.
My heart left my hand last night when Hafez was saying,
"O breeze, bring me a fragrance from a certain someone's lane."