Ghazal · 14th centuryDraft

Happy the One Whom Love Never Releases

Obeyd Zakaniعبید زاکانی

خوشا کسیکه ز عشقش دمی رهائی نیست

Happy the one who never has a moment’s release from love,

غمش ز رندی و میلش به پارسائی نیست

whose care is not for revelry, nor his leaning towards piety.

دل رمیدهٔ شوریدگان رسوائی

The startled heart of those who are crazed and disgraced

شکسته ایست که در بند مومیائی نیست

is a broken thing that seeks no healing balm.

ز فکر دنیی و عقبی فراغتی دارد

Free from all thought of this world and the next

خداشناس که با خلقش آشنائی نیست

is the knower of God who has no dealings with people.

غلام همت درویش قانعم کو را

I am the servant of the aspiration of the contented dervish,

سر بزرگی و سودای پادشاهی نیست

who has no head for greatness and no dream of kingship.

مراد خود مطلب هر زمان ز حضرت حق

Do not ask God for your own wishes at every moment,

که بر در کرمش حاجت گدائی نیست

for at the door of his generosity there is no need to beg.

به کنج عزلت از آنروی گشته ام خرسند

I have grown content in the corner of seclusion for this reason:

که دیگرم هوس صحبت ریائی نیست

I no longer long for hypocritical company.

قلندریست مجرد عبید زاکانی

Obeyd Zakani is a solitary qalandar;

حریف خواجگی و مرد کدخدائی نیست

he is no match for lordship, and no man for keeping house.

From: The Divan of Obeyd Zakani
Translation: Persiahaus Editors [Draft translation]
Source: New translation

A note for readers

A complete ghazal of seven couplets in which Obeyd, best known as a satirist, speaks in the voice of the qalandar, the wandering dervish who scorns both worldly rank and outward piety. The ‘healing balm’ is mumia, a bitumen once used to set broken bones. As usual in the ghazal, the poet names himself in the final couplet.