Hafez · Ghazal 273 · If you are a kind friend
اگر رفیق شفیقی، درست پیمان باشحریف خانه و گرمابه و گلستان باش
شکنج زلف پریشان به دست باد مدهمگو که خاطر عشاق، گو پریشان باش
گرت هواست که با خضر هم‌نشین باشینهان ز چشم سکندر چو آب حیوان باش
زبور عشق نوازی نه کار هر مرغی استبیا و نوگل این بلبل غزل‌خوان باش
طریق خدمت و آیین بندگی کردنخدای را که رها کن به ما و سلطان باش
دگر به صید حرم تیغ برمکش، زنهاروز آن که با دل ما کرده‌ای پشیمان باش
تو شمع انجمنی، یک‌زبان و یک‌دل شوخیال و کوشش پروانه بین و خندان باش
کمال دل‌بری و حسن در نظربازی استبه شیوه نظر، از نادران دوران باش
خموش حافظ و از جور یار ناله مکنتو را که گفت که در روی خوب، حیران باش؟
This ghazal is about being a true friend: faithful to your word, present at home and in the garden, in ordinary days as well as beautiful ones. It may be asking you to be that friend, or reminding you of the faithfulness you hope for from another. Do not let carelessness scatter the hearts that depend on you. Guard what is precious from greedy eyes, like the hidden water of life. Be one heart and one tongue, like a candle, and give your warmth gladly. And if love sometimes stings, smile; you chose to look.
If you are a kind friend, be true to your pledge;
be a companion at home, in the bathhouse and in the rose garden.
Do not give the coils of your scattered curl into the wind's hands;
do not say of the lovers' hearts, "Let them be scattered."
If you long to sit beside Khizr,
stay hidden from Alexander's eyes, like the water of life.
Playing the psalms of love is not the work of every bird;
come, and be the fresh rose of this nightingale who sings ghazals.
The way of service and the custom of being a servant,
for God's sake, leave them to us, and be the sultan.
Never again draw your sword on the game of the sanctuary, beware,
and be sorry for what you have done to our heart.
You are the candle of the gathering: be of one tongue and one heart;
see the dream and the striving of the moth, and smile.
The perfection of charm and beauty lies in the play of glances;
in the art of the glance, be one of the rarest of the age.
Be silent, Hafez, and do not cry out at the beloved's cruelty:
who told you to stand bewildered before a lovely face?