Hafez · Ghazal 298 · A safe place and a kind friend
مقام امن و می بی‌غش و رفیق شفیقگرت مدام میسر شود، زهی توفیق
جهان و کار جهان جمله هیچ بر هیچ استهزار بار من این نکته کرده‌ام تحقیق
دریغ و درد که تا این زمان ندانستمکه کیمیای سعادت، رفیق بود، رفیق
به مأمنی رو و فرصت شمر غنیمت وقتکه در کمینگه عمرند قاطعان طریق
بیا که توبه ز لعل نگار و خنده جامحکایتی‌ست که عقلش نمی‌کند تصدیق
اگر چه موی میانت به چون منی نرسدخوش است خاطرم از فکر این خیال دقیق
حلاوتی که تو را در چه زنخدان استبه کنه آن نرسد صد هزار فکر عمیق
اگر به رنگ عقیقی شد اشک من، چه عجب؟که مهر خاتم لعل تو هست همچو عقیق
به خنده گفت که «حافظ! غلام طبع توام»ببین که تا به چه حدم همی کند تحمیق
Hafez names three blessings: a safe place, something pure to delight in, and a kind friend. Then he confesses what took him so long to learn: the true alchemy of happiness is a friend. If your question weighs on you, this ghazal turns your eyes towards the people who care for you. Much of the world's busyness amounts to little; good company does not. Find a place of calm, treat this moment as a gift, and let a trusted friend share the road with you.
A safe place, pure wine and a kind friend:
if you can have them always, what good fortune!
The world and the world's affairs are all nothing upon nothing;
a thousand times I have tested this truth.
Alas, and what a pity that until now I did not know
the alchemy of happiness was a friend, a friend.
Go to a place of safety and count the moment's chance a gift,
for highwaymen lie in ambush on the road of life.
Come, for repenting of the beloved's ruby lips and the laughter of the cup
is a tale that reason does not believe.
Though your hair-thin waist is out of reach of one like me,
my mind delights in the thought of this subtle fancy.
The sweetness that lies in the well of your chin
a hundred thousand deep thoughts cannot fathom.
If my tears have turned the colour of carnelian, what wonder?
For the seal of your ruby lip is like carnelian.
She said, laughing, "Hafez, I am the slave of your wit";
see how far she goes in making a fool of me!