Hafez · Ghazal 89 · O Lord, bring my beloved back
یا رب سببی ساز که یارم به سلامتبازآید و برهاندم از بند ملامت
خاک ره آن یار سفرکرده بیاریدتا چشم جهان بین کنمش جای اقامت
فریاد که از شش جهتم راه ببستندآن خال و خط و زلف و رخ و عارض و قامت
امروز که در دست توام مرحمتی کنفردا که شوم خاک چه سود اشک ندامت
ای آن که به تقریر و بیان دم زنی از عشقما با تو نداریم سخن، خیر و سلامت
درویش مکن ناله ز شمشیر احباکاین طایفه از کشته ستانند غرامت
در خرقه زن آتش که خم ابروی ساقیبر می‌شکند گوشه محراب امامت
حاشا که من از جور و جفای تو بنالمبیداد لطیفان همه لطف است و کرامت
کوته نکند بحث سر زلف تو حافظپیوسته شد این سلسله تا روز قیامت
You are praying for someone or something to come back to you safely, and this ghazal joins your prayer. Hafez asks for a cause, a way, for the return to happen, and he asks with trust rather than complaint. He also offers a tender reminder: kindness shown today is worth more than tears of regret tomorrow, so be generous now with those you love. Leave aside people who only talk about love, and stay close to those who live it. Your bond is long, and it holds.
O Lord, bring about some cause that my beloved may return
safe and sound, and free me from the bonds of reproach.
Bring the dust from the road of that travelling beloved,
so I may make my world-seeing eye its dwelling place.
Help! They have barred my way from all six directions:
that mole and down, that curl and face, that cheek and stature.
Today, while I am in your hands, show me some mercy;
tomorrow, when I am dust, what use are tears of regret?
O you who talk of love with explanation and fine speech,
we have nothing to say to you: farewell, and peace.
Dervish, do not complain of the swords of your friends,
for this tribe takes the blood-price from the slain.
Set fire to the patched cloak, for the curve of the saqi's eyebrow
breaks the corner of the imam's prayer-niche.
God forbid that I should complain of your cruelty and harshness:
the injustice of the gracious is all kindness and favour.
Hafez will not cut short his talk of your curl's tip:
this chain runs on unbroken until Judgement Day.