Hafez · Ghazal 344 · A lifetime of seeking
عمریست تا من در طلب، هر روز گامی می‌زنمدست شفاعت هر زمان در نیک نامی می‌زنم
بی ماه مهرافروز خود، تا بگذرانم روز خوددامی به راهی می‌نهم، مرغی به دامی می‌زنم
اورنگ کو؟ گلچهر کو؟ نقش وفا و مهر کو؟حالی من اندر عاشقی، داو تمامی می‌زنم
تا بو که یابم آگهی از سایه سرو سهیگلبانگ عشق از هر طرف، بر خوش خرامی می‌زنم
هرچند کـ‌آن آرام دل، دانم نبخشد کام دلنقش خیالی می‌کشم، فال دوامی می‌زنم
دانم سر آرد غصه را، رنگین برآرد قصه رااین آه خون افشان که من، هر صبح و شامی می‌زنم
با آن که از وی غایبم، وز می چو حافظ تایبمدر مجلس روحانیان، گه گاه جامی می‌زنم
Hafez describes a lifetime of seeking, one step each day. He does not claim to have arrived; he simply keeps walking, singing, hoping and even casting omens, as you are now. This ghazal honours that patience. Your steady effort, and even your sighs, are not wasted: he says they will bring sorrow to an end and give your story its colour. Keep taking your daily step, keep good company, and allow yourself small joys among kindred spirits along the way.
For a lifetime I have been seeking, taking one step every day;
every moment I reach out the hand of intercession to those of good name.
Without my moon who kindles love, just to pass my days,
I set a snare on some road and catch a bird in a snare.
Where is Owrang? Where is Golchehr? Where is the pattern of faith and love?
For now, in love, I am staking everything.
In the hope of finding some news of the shade of the straight cypress,
I sing the rose-song of love on every side to every graceful walker.
Though I know that the ease of my heart will not grant my heart's desire,
I draw a picture of fancy and cast an omen that it will last.
I know it will bring sorrow to an end and give the story colour,
this blood-scattering sigh I heave every morning and evening.
Though I am absent from her, and, like Hafez, have repented of wine,
in the gathering of the spiritual I drink a cup now and then.