Hafez · Ghazal 489 · Lights of kingship in your face
ای در رخ تو پیدا انوار پادشاهیدر فکرت تو پنهان صد حکمت الهی
کلک تو بارک الله بر ملک و دین گشادهصد چشمه آب حیوان از قطره سیاهی
بر اهرمن نتابد انوار اسم اعظمملک آن توست و خاتم فرمای هر چه خواهی
در حکمت سلیمان هر کس که شک نمایدبر عقل و دانش او خندند مرغ و ماهی
باز ار چه گاه گاهی بر سر نهد کلاهیمرغان قاف دانند آیین پادشاهی
تیغی که آسمانش از فیض خود دهد آبتنها جهان بگیرد بی منت سپاهی
کلک تو خوش نویسد در شأن یار و اغیارتعویذ جان‌فزایی افسون عمرکاهی
ای عنصر تو مخلوق از کیمیای عزتو ای دولت تو ایمن از وصمت تباهی
ساقی بیار آبی از چشمه خراباتتا خرقه‌ها بشوییم از عجب خانقاهی
عمری‌ست پادشاها کز می تهی‌ست جامماینک ز بنده دعوی، وز محتسب گواهی
گر پرتوی ز تیغت، بر کان و معدن افتدیاقوت سرخ‌رو را بخشند رنگ کاهی
دانم دلت ببخشد بر عجز شب‌نشینانگر حال بنده پرسی از باد صبحگاهی
جایی که برق عصیان بر آدم صفی زدما را چگونه زیبد دعوی بی‌گناهی؟
حافظ چو پادشاهت گهگاه می‌برد نامرنجش ز بخت منما بازآ به عذرخواهی
This ghazal, written to a king, holds a quiet lesson in humility. Hafez asks to wash away the self-regard that clings to outward piety, and he admits that if even Adam stumbled, none of us can claim to be without fault. If there is a misunderstanding or a cooling between you and someone whose regard matters to you, the last line offers a kind way forward: set aside resentment, return, and offer your apology. A generous heart, he trusts, will understand the long nights you have spent.
O you in whose face the lights of kingship shine,
in whose thought a hundred divine wisdoms lie hidden,
your pen, God bless it, has opened for the realm and the faith
a hundred springs of the water of life from one drop of ink.
The lights of the Greatest Name do not shine upon the demon;
the realm is yours, and the seal: command whatever you wish.
Whoever casts doubt on the wisdom of Solomon,
the birds and the fish laugh at his reason and learning.
Though the falcon now and then wears a cap upon its head,
the birds of Mount Qaf know the true custom of kingship.
A sword that heaven tempers from its own bounty
will take the world alone, owing nothing to an army.
Your pen writes beautifully about friend and stranger alike:
a life-giving amulet, a life-shortening spell.
O you whose substance was made from the alchemy of honour,
and whose fortune is safe from the stain of ruin,
saqi, bring water from the spring of the tavern,
so we may wash our cloaks of the khanqah's self-regard.
It has been a lifetime, O king, that my cup is empty of wine;
here is the claim from your servant, and the witness from the market inspector.
If a ray of your sword should fall upon the mine,
it would turn the red-faced ruby the colour of straw.
I know your heart will forgive the helplessness of those who sit up at night,
if you ask the morning breeze about your servant's state.
Where the lightning of disobedience struck even Adam the Pure,
how could it suit us to claim that we are without sin?
Hafez, since your king now and then speaks your name,
do not show resentment at fortune; come back and ask pardon.