Hafez · Ghazal 434 · O heart, never be empty of love
ای دل مباش یک دم خالی ز عشق و مستیوآنگه برو که رستی از نیستی و هستی
گر جان به تن ببینی مشغول کار او شوهر قبله‌ای که بینی بهتر ز خودپرستی
با ضعف و ناتوانی همچون نسیم خوش باشبیماری اندر این ره بهتر ز تندرستی
در مذهب طریقت خامی نشان کفر استآری طریق دولت چالاکی است و چستی
تا فضل و عقل بینی بی‌معرفت نشینییک نکته‌ات بگویم خود را مبین که رستی
در آستان جانان از آسمان میندیشکز اوج سربلندی افتی به خاک پستی
خار ارچه جان بکاهد گل عذر آن بخواهدسهل است تلخی می در جنب ذوق مستی
صوفی پیاله‌پیما حافظ قرابه‌‌پرهیزای کوته‌آستینان تا کی درازدستی؟
Hafez's advice here is clear and freeing: do not look at yourself so much. Too much self-regard, even pride in your own learning, can stand between you and what you seek. Turn your attention outward, toward something worth loving and serving. Be light like the breeze even when you feel weak, and be quick when the moment calls. Thorns come with roses, but the rose makes amends. Keep love alive in your heart, and you will find yourself freer than you thought.
O heart, do not be empty for one moment of love and drunkenness,
and then go, for you are free of non-being and being.
While you see the soul in your body, busy yourself with His work;
any qibla you can see is better than worshipping yourself.
In weakness and frailty, be cheerful like the breeze;
on this road, sickness is better than health.
In the creed of the path, rawness is a sign of unbelief;
yes, the way of fortune is quickness and agility.
As long as you look at your learning and your reason, you will sit without true knowledge;
let me tell you one point: do not look at yourself, and you are free.
At the beloved's threshold, do not think of the heavens,
or from the height of pride you will fall into the dust of lowness.
Though the thorn wears away the soul, the rose makes amends;
the bitterness of wine is slight beside the joy of drunkenness.
The Sufi measures out cups, while Hafez shuns the flask;
O you of short sleeves, how long this long reach?