Hafez · Ghazal 340 · Seething like a wine-jar
من که از آتش دل چون خم می در جوشممهر بر لب زده، خون می‌خورم و خاموشم
قصد جان است طمع در لب جانان کردنتو مرا بین که در این کار به جان می‌کوشم
من کی آزاد شوم از غم دل؟ چون هر دمهندوی زلف بتی حلقه کند در گوشم
حاش لله که نیم معتقد طاعت خویشاین قدر هست که گه گه قدحی می‌نوشم
هست امیدم که علیرغم عدو روز جزافیض عفوش ننهد بار گنه بر دوشم
پدرم روضه رضوان به دو گندم بفروختمن چرا ملک جهان را به جوی نفروشم؟!
خرقه‌پوشی من از غایت دین‌داری نیستپرده‌ای بر سر صد عیب نهان می‌پوشم
من که خواهم که ننوشم به جز از راوق خمچه کنم گر سخن پیر مغان ننیوشم؟
گر از این دست زند مطرب مجلس ره عشقشعر حافظ ببرد وقت سماع از هوشم
Hafez is honest in this ghazal: he does not trust his own good deeds to save him, and he wears no cloak of piety to impress anyone. His hope rests instead on a flood of pardon. If you have been weighing yourself harshly, or trying to look better than you feel, this verse invites you to set that burden down. Hold the world's prizes lightly, as Adam did paradise for two grains of wheat. Listen to wise counsel, let music move you, and trust in mercy.
I, who seethe from the fire in my heart like a jar of wine,
with a seal set on my lips, drink blood and keep silent.
To covet the beloved's lip is to put one's life at risk;
look at me, how I give my whole soul to this work.
When shall I be free of my heart's grief, when every moment
the dark Hindu of an idol's curl hangs a ring in my ear?
God forbid that I should put my faith in my own obedience;
this much is true: now and then I drink a cup.
I hope that, in spite of the enemy, on the Day of Judgment
the flood of His pardon will not lay the load of sin on my shoulders.
My father sold the garden of paradise for two grains of wheat;
why should I not sell the kingdom of the world for a barleycorn?
My wearing of the Sufi cloak is not from an excess of piety;
I am drawing a veil over a hundred hidden faults.
I, who wish to drink nothing but what is strained from the jar,
what can I do but listen to the words of the Magian elder?
If the minstrel of the gathering plays the mode of love like this,
the verse of Hafez will carry my senses away at the time of sama.