Hafez · Ghazal 435 · Do not tell the pretender
با مدعی مگویید، اسرار عشق و مستیتا بی‌خبر بمیرد، در درد خودپرستی
عاشق شو ار نه روزی، کار جهان سرآیدناخوانده نقش مقصود، از کارگاه هستی
دوش آن صنم چه خوش گفت، در مجلس مغانم«با کافران چه کارت؟ گر بت نمی‌پرستی»
سلطان من خدا را، زلفت شکست ما راتا کی کند سیاهی، چندین درازدستی؟
در گوشه سلامت، مستور چون توان بودتا نرگس تو با ما، گوید رموز مستی
آن روز دیده بودم، این فتنه‌ها که برخاستکز سرکشی، زمانی، با ما نمی‌نشستی
عشقت، به دست طوفان، خواهد سپرد حافظچون برق، از این کشاکش، پنداشتی که جستی
Hafez speaks plainly: love, or the picture of your purpose will stay unread when your days are done. This ghazal invites you to stop hiding in the safe corner and let yourself be moved by something real. Keep what is precious away from those who would only mock it; it is not for them. You may have hoped to slip past the struggle untouched, but true love asks you to stay in the storm a little while. That is where your purpose is written.
Do not tell the secrets of love and drunkenness to the pretender;
let him die unaware, in the pain of self-worship.
Fall in love, or else one day the work of the world will end
with the picture of your purpose unread in the workshop of being.
How well that idol spoke last night in the Magians' gathering:
"What business have you with unbelievers, if you do not worship idols?"
My sultan, for God's sake, your curl has broken us;
how long will that darkness reach so far?
How can one stay hidden in the corner of safety
while your narcissus tells us the secrets of drunkenness?
I saw these troubles coming on the very day
you would not sit with us a while, out of pride.
Your love will hand Hafez over to the storm;
you thought you had slipped out of this struggle like lightning.