Hafez · Ghazal 450 · You have kept us anxious
روزگاری‌ست که ما را نگران می‌داریمخلصان را نه به وضع دگران می‌داری
گوشه چشم رضایی به منت باز نشداین چنین عزت صاحب‌نظران می‌داری؟
ساعد آن به که بپوشی تو چو از بهر نگاردست در خون دل پرهنران می‌داری
نه گل از دست غمت رست و نه بلبل در باغهمه را نعره‌زنان جامه‌دران می‌داری
ای که در دلق ملمع طلبی نقد حضورچشم سری عجب از بی‌خبران می‌داری؟
چون تویی نرگس باغ نظر ای چشم و چراغسر چرا بر من دل‌خسته گران می‌داری؟
گوهر جام‌جم از کان جهانی دگر استتو تمنا ز گل کوزه‌گران می‌داری
پدر تجربه ای دل تویی آخر ز چه رویطمع مهر و وفا زین پسران می‌داری؟
کیسه سیم و زرت پاک بباید پرداختاین طمع‌ها که تو از سیم‌بران می‌داری
گر چه رندی و خرابی گنه ماست، ولیعاشقی گفت که تو بنده بر آن می‌داری
مگذران روز سلامت به ملامت حافظچه توقع ز جهان گذران می‌داری؟
You may have been waiting a long time for recognition from someone who seems to treat others better than you. Hafez feels that sting, but he also turns to himself with a wise question: why look for a priceless jewel in ordinary clay? Some of what you seek cannot come from where you are looking. Take your own experience seriously; you have learned more than you think. And do not spend your safe, good days in complaint. Life passes; spend it well.
For a long time now you have kept us anxious;
you do not treat your sincere ones the way you treat the others.
Not once has the corner of an approving eye opened to me;
is this how you honour those who see truly?
Better to cover your forearm, since, as if for henna,
you dip your hand in the heart's blood of the gifted.
Neither the rose escaped the hand of your grief, nor the nightingale in the garden;
you keep them all crying aloud and tearing their robes.
O you who seek the coin of presence in a gaudy patched cloak,
how strange, to expect knowledge of the secret from the unaware!
Since you are the narcissus of the garden of sight, O eye and lamp,
why do you hold your head so coldly toward me, the heart-sick?
The jewel of Jamshid's cup comes from the mine of another world;
you are hoping to find it in the potters' clay.
O heart, you are the father of experience, after all; why
do you hope for love and faithfulness from these boys?
You will have to empty your purse of silver and gold entirely,
with all these hopes you hold of silver-bodied beauties.
Though rendi and ruin are our sin,
a lover said, "It is you who drive your servant to them."
Hafez, do not spend your days of safety in blame;
what do you expect from a passing world?