Ghazal · 17th–18th century

For a Few Days, One Must Live

Bidel Dehlaviبیدل دهلوی

زان تغافل‌گر چرا ناشاد باید زیستن

Why live unhappy over the one who ignores us?

ای فراموشان به ذوق یاد باید زیستن

O forgotten ones, we must live on the joy of remembering.

بلبلان نی الفت دام است اینجا نی قفس

Nightingales, it is not that we love the snare or the cage:

بر مراد خاطر صیاد باید زیستن

we must live as the hunter’s heart desires.

من نمی‌گویم به‌کلی از تعلق‌ها برآ

I do not say, break free of all attachments;

اندکی زین دردسر آزاد باید زیستن

but we must live a little free of this headache.

خواه در دوزخ وطن ‌کن خواه با فردوس ساز

Whether you make your home in hell or settle in paradise,

عافیت هرجا نباشد شاد باید زیستن

where there is no ease, we must live glad.

چون سپندم عمرها در کسوت افسردگی

Like rue seed, for ages, in the garb of coldness,

بر امید یک تپش فریاد باید زیستن

we must live as a cry, in hope of a single leap.

نیست زین دشوارتر جهدی که ما را با فنا

There is no struggle harder than this: that, at peace with death,

صلح کار عالم اضداد باید زیستن

we must live as peacemakers in a world of opposites.

زندگی بر گردن افتاده‌ست یاران چاره چیست

Life has fallen on our shoulders, friends: what is to be done?

چند روزی هرچه باداباد باید زیستن

For a few days, come what may, we must live.

From: The Divan of Bidel
Translation: Persiahaus Editors
Source: Draft translation from the Ganjoor text
Persian text: Ganjoor

A note for readers

The first seven couplets of a ghazal on the refrain ‘we must live’ (bayad zistan). Its seventh couplet, a weary acceptance of life as a burden to be carried ‘come what may’, is often quoted. Seeds of wild rue, thrown on the fire against the evil eye, crackle and leap as they burn: so the cold, still heart waits for one leap of feeling.