Once I had a heart

مسلمانان مرا وقتی دلی بود

O Muslims, once I had a heart

که با وی گفتمی گر مشکلی بود

to which I would speak whenever a difficulty came.

به گردابی چو می‌افتادم از غم

When I fell into a whirlpool of grief,

به تدبیرش امید ساحلی بود

its counsel gave me hope of a shore.

دلی همدرد و یاری مصلحت بین

A heart that shared my pain, a friend who saw what was right,

که استظهار هر اهل دلی بود

the support of every person of heart.

ز من ضایع شد اندر کوی جانان

I lost it in the beloved's lane;

چه دامنگیر یا رب منزلی بود

O Lord, what a place that was, that catches at the hem!

هنر بی‌عیب حرمان نیست لیکن

Merit is never free of the flaw of being denied, but

ز من محروم‌تر کی سائلی بود؟

when was there ever a beggar more denied than I?

بر این جان پریشان رحمت آرید

Have mercy on this scattered soul,

که وقتی کاردانی کاملی بود

for once it was skilled and accomplished.

مرا تا عشق تعلیم سخن کرد

Since love taught me how to speak,

حدیثم نکته هر محفلی بود

my words have been the fine point of every gathering.

مگو دیگر که حافظ نکته‌دان است

Do not say any more that Hafez knows subtle things,

که ما دیدیم و محکم جاهلی بود

for we have seen him, and he was a perfect fool.