By her life

به جان او که گرم دسترس به جان بودی

By her life, if my life were mine to give,

کمینه پیشکش بندگانش آن بودی

it would be the least gift I could offer her servants.

بگفتمی که «بها چیست خاک پایش را؟»

I would say what the dust of her feet is worth,

اگر حیات گران مایه جاودان بودی

if precious life lasted forever.

به بندگی قدش سرو معترف گشتی

The cypress would confess itself the servant of her stature,

گرش چو سوسن آزاده ده زبان بودی

if, like the free lily, it had ten tongues.

به خواب نیز نمی‌بینمش چه جای وصال

I do not see her even in dreams, let alone in union;

چو این نبود و ندیدیم باری آن بودی

since union was not to be, if only there could be the dream.

اگر دلم نشدی پایبند طره او

If my heart had not been tied to her lock,

کی‌اش قرار در این تیره‌خاکدان بودی؟

how could it ever have rested in this dark heap of dust?

به رخ چو مهر فلک بی‌نظیر آفاق است

In face, like the sun in the sky, she has no equal in the world;

به دل دریغ که یک ذره مهربان بودی

in heart, alas, if only she had one speck of kindness.

درآمدی ز درم کاشکی چو لمعه نور

If only she would come through my door like a gleam of light,

که بر دو دیده ما حکم او روان بودی

so that her command could run over both our eyes.

ز پرده ناله حافظ برون کی افتادی؟

When would Hafez's lament have come out from behind the veil,

اگر نه همدم مرغان صبح خوان بودی

if he had not been the companion of the birds who sing at dawn?