Hafez · Ghazal 305 · Ashamed of repenting
به وقت گل شدم از توبه شراب خجلکه کس مباد ز کردار ناصواب خجل
صلاح ما همه دام ره است و من زین بحثنی‌ام ز شاهد و ساقی به هیچ باب خجل
بود که یار نرنجد ز ما به خلق کریمکه از سؤال ملولیم و از جواب خجل
ز خون که رفت شب دوش از سراچه چشمشدیم در نظر رهروان خواب خجل
رواست نرگس مست ار فکند سر در پیشکه شد ز شیوه آن چشم پر عتاب خجل
تویی که خوب‌تری ز آفتاب و شکر خداکه نیستم ز تو در روی آفتاب خجل
حجاب ظلمت از آن بست آب خضر که گشتز شعر حافظ و آن طبع همچو آب خجل
In the season of roses Hafez finds himself embarrassed, not by his pleasures, but by the stiff repentance he once vowed against them. This ghazal gently questions the kind of shame that keeps us from life. If you have been hard on yourself, consider whether your strictness has become a snare on the road. Be honest and be kind, and trust that a generous heart will not be wounded by your simple humanity. There is nothing to be ashamed of in loving what is beautiful, or in having a gift and using it.
In the season of the rose I grew ashamed of repenting from wine;
may no one ever be put to shame by a wrongful deed.
Our righteousness is all a snare on the road, and in this matter
I am in no way ashamed before the beauty or the saqi.
Perhaps the friend, being noble of nature, will not be hurt by us,
for we are weary of asking and ashamed of answering.
From the blood that flowed last night from the chamber of my eyes
we were put to shame in the sight of those who travel the road of sleep.
It is right that the drunken narcissus should bow its head,
for it was put to shame by the ways of that reproachful eye.
You are lovelier than the sun, and, thank God,
I need not be ashamed of you before the face of the sun.
The water of Khizr veiled itself in darkness because
it was put to shame by Hafez's poetry and that nature like water.