Hafez · Ghazal 358 · The sorrow of the times
غم زمانه که هیچش کران نمی‌بینمدواش جز می چون ارغوان نمی‌بینم
به ترک خدمت پیر مغان نخواهم گفتچرا که مصلحت خود در آن نمی‌بینم
ز آفتاب قدح ارتفاع عیش بگیرچرا که طالع وقت آن چنان نمی‌بینم
نشان اهل خدا عاشقیست، با خود دارکه در مشایخ شهر این نشان نمی‌بینم
بدین دو دیده حیران من هزار افسوسکه با دو آینه رویش عیان نمی‌بینم
قد تو تا بشد از جویبار دیده منبه جای سرو جز آب روان نمی‌بینم
در این خمار کسم جرعه‌ای نمی‌بخشدببین که اهل دلی در میان نمی‌بینم
نشان موی میانش که دل در او بستمز من مپرس که خود در میان نمی‌بینم
من و سفینه حافظ که جز در این دریابضاعت سخن درفشان نمی‌بینم
The sorrows of the times may seem to have no shore, and you may feel that no one around you offers even a sip of kindness. Hafez does not argue with that sorrow; he turns to what steadies him: the cup, the guidance of the Magian elder, and love, which he calls the true mark of those close to God. Do not abandon what has sustained you. Take your joy where it is offered, while the hour allows, and keep love with you as your sign. Even in this sea there are pearls.
The sorrow of the times, to which I see no shore at all,
I see no cure for but wine the colour of the Judas-tree flower.
I will not give up serving the Magian elder,
for I see no good for myself in that.
Take the height of joy from the sun of the cup,
for I do not see the stars of this hour so favourable.
The mark of God's people is love; keep it with you,
for among the city's shaykhs I do not see this mark.
A thousand regrets for these two bewildered eyes of mine,
that with two mirrors I still do not see his face clearly.
Since your stature left the stream-bank of my eyes,
in place of the cypress I see nothing but running water.
In this hangover no one grants me a single sip;
look, I see no one among them who has a heart.
Of the trace of her hair-thin waist, to which I bound my heart,
do not ask me, for I cannot find even myself in the midst of it.
Only I and the ship of Hafez, for outside this sea
I see no wealth of speech that scatters pearls.