Hafez · Ghazal 486 · The nightingale on the cypress
بلبل، ز شاخ سرو، به گلبانگ پهلویمی‌خواند دوش، درس مقامات معنوی
یعنی بیا، که آتش موسی، نمود گلتا از درخت، نکته توحید بشنوی
مرغان باغ، قافیه‌سنجند و بذله‌گویتا خواجه می خورد، به غزل‌های پهلوی
جمشید، جز حکایت جام، از جهان نبردزنهار! دل مبند، بر اسباب دنیوی
این قصه عجب شنو از بخت واژگونما را بکشت یار، به انفاس عیسوی
خوش، وقت بوریا و گدایی و خواب امنکاین عیش، نیست درخور اورنگ خسروی
چشمت، به غمزه، خانه مردم، خراب کردمخموریـت مباد، که خوش مست می‌روی
دهقان سال‌خورده، چه خوش گفت با پسرکای نور چشم من! به جز از کشته، ندروی
ساقی، مگر وظیفه حافظ، زیاده دادکآشفته گشت، طره دستار مولوی
In this ghazal the garden itself is teaching: the rose glows like the fire Moses saw, and the nightingale sings an old lesson. Hafez reminds you that even Jamshid left the world with nothing but a story, and that a simple life with untroubled sleep can be richer than a throne. At its centre is an old farmer's wisdom: you will reap what you sow. Whatever you are hoping for, tend it with patient, honest work and kindness, and do not bind your heart too tightly to things.
The nightingale, on the cypress branch, in old Pahlavi song,
was teaching last night the lesson of the spiritual stations:
that is, "Come, for the rose has shown the fire of Moses,
so that you may hear from the tree the secret of Unity."
The birds of the garden are weighing rhymes and telling jests,
so that the master may drink his wine to Pahlavi ghazals.
Jamshid took nothing from the world but the tale of his cup;
take care: do not bind your heart to the goods of this world.
Hear this strange tale of my upside-down fortune:
the beloved killed us with the breath of Jesus.
Happy the days of the reed mat, of beggary and untroubled sleep,
for such pleasure is not to be had on the throne of kings.
Your eye, with its glance, has ruined the house of people;
may you never suffer the morning after, for you walk so sweetly drunk.
How well the old farmer spoke to his son:
"Light of my eyes, you will reap nothing but what you have sown."
Saqi, perhaps you gave Hafez more than his share,
for the tail of the mullah's turban has come undone.