Hafez · Ghazal 473 · Count the moment a gift
وقت را غنیمت دان آن قدر که بتوانیحاصل از حیات ای جان این دم است تا دانی
کام‌بخشی گردون عمر در عوض داردجهد کن که از دولت داد عیش بستانی
باغبان چو من زین جا بگذرم حرامت بادگر به جای من سروی غیر دوست بنشانی
زاهد پشیمان را ذوق باده خواهد کشتعاقلا! مکن کاری کآورد پشیمانی
محتسب نمی‌داند این قدر که صوفی راجنس خانگی باشد همچو لعل رمانی
با دعای شب‌خیزان ای شکردهان مستیزدر پناه یک اسم است خاتم سلیمانی
پند عاشقان بشنو و از در طرب بازآکاین همه نمی‌ارزد شغل عالم فانی
یوسف عزیزم رفت ای برادران رحمیکز غمش عجب بینم حال پیر کنعانی
پیش زاهد از رندی دم مزن که نتوان گفتبا طبیب نامحرم حال درد پنهانی
می‌روی و مژگانت خون خلق می‌ریزدتیز می‌روی جانا ترسمت فرومانی
دل ز ناوک چشمت گوش داشتم لیکنابروی کماندارت می‌برد به پیشانی
جمع کن به احسانی حافظ پریشان راای شکنج گیسویت مجمع پریشانی
گر تو فارغی از ما ای نگار سنگین‌دلحال خود بخواهم گفت پیش آصف ثانی
The first line of this ghazal is its whole counsel: count the moment a gift, for this breath is what life gives you. Hafez warns against the worry that spends today on tomorrow, and against choices you would later regret. He also honours quiet, faithful prayer, which he says protects like Solomon's seal. If you are anxious or scattered, gather yourself with one act of kindness, to yourself or to someone else. The affairs of the passing world can wait; joy and sincerity are here for you now.
Count the moment as a gift, as much as you can;
the yield of life, my dear, is this moment, if you only knew.
The heavens grant our wishes but take our life in exchange;
strive, then, to take from fortune your full share of joy.
Gardener, when I pass on from here, may it be forbidden to you
if in my place you plant any cypress but the Friend.
The longing for wine will be the death of the repentant zahid;
O wise one, do nothing that will bring regret.
The market inspector does not know even this much: that the Sufi
keeps home-made goods as red as a pomegranate ruby.
Do not quarrel with the prayers of those who rise at night, O sugar-lipped one;
Solomon's seal is kept safe by a single Name.
Listen to the lovers' counsel and come back through the door of joy,
for none of it is worth it, the business of this passing world.
My dear Joseph has gone; brothers, have mercy,
for I see the old man of Canaan in a strange state from grief for him.
Say nothing of rendi before the zahid, for one cannot tell
a hidden pain to a doctor who is a stranger.
You walk away, and your lashes spill the blood of everyone;
you go so fast, my love, I fear you will be left stranded.
I guarded my heart against the arrow of your eye, but
your archer eyebrow takes it boldly, face to face.
Gather Hafez, who is scattered, with one kindness,
O you whose twisting tresses are the gathering-place of all scattering.
If you have no care for me, O stone-hearted beloved,
I will tell my state to the second Asaf.