Hafez · Ghazal 420 · What does it mean?
ناگهان پرده برانداخته‌ای، یعنی چه؟مست از خانه برون تاخته‌ای، یعنی چه؟
زلف در دست صبا، گوش به فرمان رقیباین چنین با همه درساخته‌ای، یعنی چه؟
شاه خوبانی و منظور گدایان شده‌ایقدر این مرتبه نشناخته‌ای، یعنی چه؟
نه سر زلف خود اول تو به دستم دادیبازم از پای درانداخته‌ای، یعنی چه؟
سخنت رمز دهان گفت و کمر سر میانوز میان، تیغ به ما آخته‌ای، یعنی چه؟
هر کس از مهره مهر تو به نقشی مشغولعاقبت با همه کج باخته‌ای، یعنی چه؟
حافظا در دل تنگت چو فرود آمد یارخانه از غیر نپرداخته‌ای، یعنی چه؟
Someone's behaviour has puzzled you: warm one moment and distant the next, generous to everyone and yet unpredictable with you. Hafez asks his question again and again, "What does it mean?", and he does not get an answer. But his last couplet turns the question gently back on himself. When love came into your heart, did you make room for it, or was the house still full of other cares? Before you ask for clarity from others, clear a space within.
Suddenly you have thrown back the veil: what does it mean?
Drunk, you have rushed out of the house: what does it mean?
Your curl in the breeze's hand, your ear at the rival's command:
you have made terms like this with everyone: what does it mean?
You are the king of the fair, and the beggars have set their eyes on you;
you have not known the worth of this rank: what does it mean?
Was it not you who first put the end of your curl in my hand?
And now you have thrown me down again: what does it mean?
Your words told the riddle of your mouth, your belt the secret of your waist,
and from that waist you have drawn a sword on us: what does it mean?
Everyone is busy with some move with the piece of your love;
in the end you have played crooked with them all: what does it mean?
Hafez, when the beloved came down into your narrow heart,
you did not clear the house of others: what does it mean?