Hafez · Ghazal 456 · It is spring
نوبهار است در آن کوش که خوش‌دل باشیکه بسی گل بدمد باز و تو در گل باشی
من نگویم که کنون با که نشین و چه بنوشکه تو خود دانی اگر زیرک و عاقل باشی
چنگ در پرده همین می‌دهدت پند ولیوعظت آن گاه کند سود که قابل باشی
در چمن هر ورقی دفتر حالی دگر استحیف باشد که ز کار همه غافل باشی
نقد عمرت ببرد غصه دنیا به گزافگر شب و روز در این قصه مشکل باشی
گر چه راهی‌ست پر از بیم ز ما تا بر دوسترفتن آسان بود ار واقف منزل باشی
حافظا گر مدد از بخت بلندت باشدصید آن شاهد مطبوع‌شمایل باشی
Hafez opens this page with spring and an invitation: be glad while the roses bloom, for they will bloom again long after this season has passed. He does not tell you exactly what to do; he trusts you to know, if you listen with a wise heart. Worry, he warns, spends the precious coin of your life for nothing. The road ahead may look uncertain, but it becomes easy once you understand where you are going. Notice the small signs around you, and let your heart be light.
It is spring: strive to be glad of heart,
for many a rose will bloom again when you are under the clay.
I will not tell you whom to sit with now, or what to drink,
for you yourself know, if you are shrewd and wise.
The harp, in its melody, gives you this same counsel, but
its preaching will profit you only when you are ready to hear it.
In the meadow every leaf is the ledger of another state;
it would be a pity to be heedless of them all.
The grief of the world will carry off the cash of your life for nothing
if night and day you are caught up in this hard tale.
Though the road from us to the Friend's side is full of fear,
the going is easy if you know the stages.
Hafez, if your high fortune comes to your aid,
you will be the quarry of that lovely, graceful one.