Hafez · Ghazal 437 · The tale of paradise
ای قصه بهشت ز کویت حکایتیشرح جمال حور ز رویت روایتی
انفاس عیسی از لب لعلت لطیفه‌ایآب خضر ز نوش لبانت کنایتی
هر پاره از دل من و از غصه قصه‌ایهر سطری از خصال تو و از رحمت آیتی
کی عطرسای مجلس روحانیان شدی؟گل را اگر نه بوی تو کردی رعایتی
در آرزوی خاک در یار سوختیمیاد آور ای صبا که نکردی حمایتی
ای دل به هرزه دانش و عمرت به باد رفتصد مایه داشتی و نکردی کفایتی
بوی دل کباب من آفاق را گرفتاین آتش درون بکند هم سرایتی
در آتش ار خیال رخش دست می‌دهدساقی بیا که نیست ز دوزخ شکایتی
دانی مراد حافظ از این درد و غصه چیست؟از تو کرشمه‌ای و ز خسرو عنایتی
Every line of what you love speaks of mercy, even while your heart carries its stories of grief. Hafez admits that he has sometimes wasted his gifts, and he asks you gently not to do the same: you have a hundred resources within you, so use them. The warmth of your longing is not wasted; it spreads and touches others. In the end, what you ask for may be quite small and simple: one kind look, one gesture of grace. Ask for it.
O you of whose street the tale of paradise is just one telling,
of whose face the praise of the houris' beauty is just one report:
The breath of Jesus is one fine hint of your ruby lip,
the water of Khezr one allusion to your sweet lips.
Every piece of my heart holds a story of grief;
every line of your qualities, a sign of mercy.
How could the rose have perfumed the gathering of the spirits,
if your scent had not shown it some favour?
We burned in longing for the dust of the beloved's door;
remember, O breeze, that you gave us no help.
O heart, your learning and your life have gone to the wind for nothing;
you had a hundred assets and made nothing of them.
The scent of my roasted heart has filled the horizons;
this inner fire will spread to others too.
If the image of her face appears in the fire,
saqi, come, for I have no complaint about hell.
Do you know what Hafez wants from all this pain and grief?
From you, one glance; from the king, one kindness.