In old age, a young love

پیرانه سرم عشق جوانی به سر افتاد

Now that my head is old, a young man's love has come into it,

وآن راز که در دل بنهفتم به درافتاد

and the secret I hid in my heart has come out into the open.

از راه نظر مرغ دلم گشت هواگیر

By way of the eye, the bird of my heart took to the air;

ای دیده نگه کن که به دام که درافتاد

look, O eye, and see whose snare it has fallen into.

دردا که از آن آهوی مشکین سیه چشم

Alas, because of that musky, dark-eyed gazelle,

چون نافه بسی خون دلم در جگر افتاد

like the musk-pod, much of my heart's blood has pooled within me.

از رهگذر خاک سر کوی شما بود

It came from passing over the dust at the head of your lane,

هر نافه که در دست نسیم سحر افتاد

every musk-pod that ever fell into the hand of the dawn breeze.

مژگان تو تا تیغ جهانگیر برآورد

As soon as your lashes drew the world-conquering sword,

بس کشته دل زنده که بر یکدگر افتاد

how many slain with living hearts fell one upon another!

بس تجربه کردیم در این دیر مکافات

We have tried it often in this monastery of retribution:

با دردکشان هر که درافتاد برافتاد

whoever grappled with the dreg-drinkers was overthrown.

گر جان بدهد سنگ سیه، لعل نگردد

Though the black stone gives up its life, it will not become a ruby;

با طینت اصلی چه کند، بدگهر افتاد

what can it do against its nature? It was born of base stock.

حافظ که سر زلف بتان دست‌کشش بود

Hafez, whose hand once played with the tips of idols' curls,

بس طرفه حریفی‌ست کش اکنون به سر افتاد

has met a remarkable rival who now has the upper hand over him.