Come what may

شراب و عیش نهان چیست؟ کار بی‌بنیاد

What are secret wine and hidden pleasure? A thing without foundation.

زدیم بر صف رندان و هر چه بادا باد

We have joined the ranks of the rends, come what may.

گره ز دل بگشا وز سپهر یاد مکن

Untie the knot in your heart, and do not think about the heavens,

که فکر هیچ مهندس چنین گره نگشاد

for no geometer's thought has ever untied this knot.

ز انقلاب زمانه عجب مدار که چرخ

Do not wonder at the changes of time, for the wheel

از این فسانه هزاران هزار دارد یاد

remembers thousands upon thousands of such tales.

قدح به شرط ادب گیر زان که ترکیبش

Take up the cup with reverence, for it is made

ز کاسه سر جمشید و بهمن است و قباد

from the skulls of Jamshid, Bahman and Qobad.

که آگه است که کاووس و کی کجا رفتند؟

Who knows where Kavus and Kay have gone?

که واقف است که چون رفت تخت جم، بر باد؟

Who knows how the throne of Jamshid went to the wind?

ز حسرت لب شیرین هنوز می‌بینم

From longing for Shirin's lip, I still see

که لاله می‌دمد از خون دیده فرهاد

the tulip springing from the blood of Farhad's eyes.

مگر که لاله بدانست بی‌وفایی دهر

Perhaps the tulip understood the faithlessness of the world,

که تا بزاد و بشد، جام می ز کف ننهاد

for from its birth until it died, it never set the wine cup down.

بیا بیا که زمانی ز می خراب شویم

Come, come, let us be ruined with wine for a while;

مگر رسیم به گنجی در این خراب آباد

perhaps we will find a treasure in this ruined dwelling.

نمی‌دهند اجازت مرا به سیر سفر

They will not give me leave to travel,

نسیم باد مصلا و آب رکن آباد

the breeze of Mosalla and the water of Roknabad.

قدح مگیر چو حافظ مگر به ناله چنگ

Like Hafez, take the cup only to the lament of the harp,

که بسته‌اند بر ابریشم طرب دل شاد

for the happy heart is bound to the silk strings of joy.