Hafez · Ghazal 321 · Though I have grown old
هر چند پیر و خسته‌دل و ناتوان شدمهر گه که یاد روی تو کردم جوان شدم
شکر خدا که هر چه طلب کردم از خدابر منتهای همت خود کامران شدم
ای گلبن جوان! بر دولت بخور که مندر سایه تو بلبل باغ جهان شدم
اول ز تحت و فوق وجودم خبر نبوددر مکتب غم تو، چنین نکته‌دان شدم
قسمت حوالتم به خرابات می‌کندهر چند کاینچنین شدم و آنچنان شدم
آن روز بر دلم در معنی گشوده شدکز ساکنان درگه پیر مغان شدم
در شاه‌راه دولت سرمد به تخت بختبا جام می به کام دل دوستان شدم
از آن زمان که فتنه چشمت به من رسیدایمن ز شر فتنه آخرزمان شدم
من پیر سال و ماه نیم، یار بی‌وفاستبر من چو عمر می‌گذرد پیر از آن شدم
دوشم نوید داد عنایت که حافظابازآ که من به عفو گناهت ضمان شدم
This is a ghazal of renewal. Whatever has made you feel tired or older than your years, Hafez says that one remembrance of what you love can make you young again. He gives thanks that what he asked for was granted, and that grief itself became a school where he learned what matters. The verse ends with a message of grace: come back, you are forgiven. If you have been carrying regret, set it down. The door of meaning is open to you.
Though I have grown old, heart-weary and weak,
whenever I remembered your face I became young.
Thanks be to God that whatever I asked of God,
I attained it at the very height of my aspiration.
O young rose-bush, enjoy your good fortune, for I
in your shade became the nightingale of the world's garden.
At first I knew nothing of what lies beneath and above existence;
in the school of grief for you I learned such subtle points.
Fate keeps directing me to the tavern,
however much I became this or became that.
On that day the door of meaning opened on my heart
when I became one of those who dwell at the Magian elder's door.
On the highway of eternal fortune, on the throne of luck,
with a cup of wine I won my heart's desire among friends.
Since the mischief of your eye has reached me,
I have been safe from the evil of the turmoil at the end of time.
I am not old in years and months; my friend is faithless,
and passes me by as life does; that is what made me old.
Last night grace gave me good news: "Hafez,
come back, for I stand surety for the pardon of your sins."