Hafez · Ghazal 65 · What is sweeter than this?
خوش‌تر ز عیش و صحبت و باغ و بهار چیست؟ساقی کجاست؟ گو سبب انتظار چیست؟
هر وقت خوش که دست دهد، مغتنم شمارکس را وقوف نیست که انجام کار چیست
پیوند عمر بسته به مویی‌ست، هوش دارغمخوار خویش باش، غم روزگار چیست؟
معنی آب زندگی و روضه ارمجز طرف جویبار و می خوشگوار چیست؟
مستور و مست هر دو چو از یک قبیله‌اندما دل به عشوه که دهیم؟ اختیار چیست؟
راز درون پرده چه داند فلک؟ خموشای مدعی! نزاع تو با پرده‌دار چیست؟
سهو و خطای بنده گرش اعتبار نیستمعنی عفو و رحمت آمرزگار چیست؟
زاهد شراب کوثر و حافظ پیاله خواستتا در میانه خواسته کردگار چیست
Why wait? Hafez asks. The garden is in bloom, good company is near, and no one knows how the story ends. This ghazal invites you to stop postponing your life until everything is settled. Treat each good hour as a gift and be gentle with yourself, since you are your own best comforter. Leave the hidden secrets to the one who keeps the veil, and do not fear your mistakes too much: forgiveness exists precisely for them. Enjoy what is good and near, now.
What is sweeter than pleasure and company, the garden and the spring?
Where is the saqi? Ask him, why this waiting?
Every good moment that comes to hand, count it as a gift:
no one knows how things will end.
The thread of life is tied to a single hair: take care.
Be your own comforter: what is the grief of the world to you?
What is the meaning of the water of life and the garden of Eram
but the bank of a stream and wine that goes down sweetly?
Since the sober and the drunk are both of one tribe,
to whose charms should we give our hearts? What choice is there?
What does the sky know of the secret behind the veil? Be silent,
O pretender! What is your quarrel with the keeper of the veil?
If the servant's lapses and errors did not count,
what would be the meaning of the Forgiver's pardon and mercy?
The zahid asked for the wine of Kawthar, and Hafez for the cup:
let us see which, between the two, the Creator wills.