Hafez · Ghazal 455 · My life has passed
عمر بگذشت به بی‌حاصلی و بوالهوسیای پسر جام می‌ام ده که به پیری برسی
چه شکرهاست در این شهر که قانع شده‌اندشاه‌بازان طریقت به مقام مگسی
دوش در خیل غلامان درش می‌رفتمگفت: «ای عاشق بیچاره تو باری چه کسی؟»
با دل خون‌شده چون نافه خوشش باید بودهر که مشهور جهان گشت به مشکین‌نفسی
لمع البرق من الطور و آنست بهفلعلی لک آت بشهاب قبس
کاروان رفت و تو در خواب و بیابان در پیشوه که بس بی‌خبر از غلغل چندین جرسی
بال بگشا و صفیر از شجر طوبی زنحیف باشد چو تو مرغی که اسیر قفسی
تا چو مجمر نفسی دامن جانان گیرمجان نهادیم بر آتش ز پی خوش‌نفسی
چند پوید به هوای تو ز هر سو حافظیسر الله طریقا بک یا ملتمسی
This ghazal is a gentle call to wake up. The caravan bells are ringing, and Hafez wonders why a falcon would settle for the life of a fly, or a bird made for the tree of paradise stay in a cage. Perhaps you have been content with less than you are capable of. Like Moses glimpsing a light on the mountain, you may already have seen a spark worth walking towards. Spread your wings, take the next step, and trust that the path will be made easy.
My life has passed in fruitlessness and idle fancies;
boy, give me a cup of wine, and may you live to be old.
How much sugar there is in this city, and yet
the royal falcons of the Path have settled for the station of the fly!
Last night I walked among the troop of servants at her door;
she said, "And you, poor lover, who are you, after all?"
With a heart turned to blood, like the musk-pod, he must still be glad,
whoever has become famous in the world for musky breath.
Lightning flashed from Mount Sinai, and I saw it;
perhaps I may bring you a burning brand from it.
The caravan has gone, and you are asleep, and the desert lies ahead;
ah, how unaware you are of the clamour of so many bells!
Spread your wings and sing out from the Tuba tree of paradise;
it is a pity that a bird like you should be captive in a cage.
So that, like the censer, for one breath I might hold the beloved's hem,
I have laid my life upon the fire for the sake of a sweet scent.
How long will Hafez run on every side in longing for you?
May God make easy a path to you, O you whom I seek.