Hafez · Ghazal 441 · If that moon's heart were kind
چه بودی ار دل آن ماه مهربان بودی؟که حال ما نه چنین بودی ار چنان بودی
بگفتمی که «چه ارزد نسیم طره دوست؟»گرم به هر سر مویی هزار جان بودی
برات خوش‌دلی ما چه کم شدی یا ربگرش نشان امان از بد زمان بودی
گرم زمانه سرافراز داشتی و عزیزسریر عزتم آن خاک آستان بودی
ز پرده کاش برون آمدی چو قطره اشککه بر دو دیده ما حکم او روان بودی
اگر نه دایره عشق راه بربستیچو نقطه حافظ سرگشته در میان بودی
This is a ghazal of "if only": if only the beloved were kinder, if only happiness came with a guarantee. You may be living in that wish now. Hafez does not pretend the longing away, but notice what he would do with good fortune: he would make his throne in the dust of a loved threshold. Your heart already knows where it wants to be. Rather than dwelling on what is not, turn quietly toward that threshold, and wait there with patience.
What would it be if that moon's heart were kind?
Our state would not be like this, if it were like that.
I could tell what the breeze from the Friend's lock is worth
if I had a thousand lives for every hair.
Lord, what would our warrant of happiness have lost
if it had carried a seal of safety from the evils of time?
If the age had kept me raised up and dear,
my throne of honour would have been the dust of that threshold.
If only she would come out from behind the veil, like a tear,
so that her command could run over both our eyes.
If the circle of love had not closed off the road,
bewildered Hafez would be at the centre, like the point.