The nightingale on the cypress

بلبل، ز شاخ سرو، به گلبانگ پهلوی

The nightingale, on the cypress branch, in old Pahlavi song,

می‌خواند دوش، درس مقامات معنوی

was teaching last night the lesson of the spiritual stations:

یعنی بیا، که آتش موسی، نمود گل

that is, "Come, for the rose has shown the fire of Moses,

تا از درخت، نکته توحید بشنوی

so that you may hear from the tree the secret of Unity."

مرغان باغ، قافیه‌سنجند و بذله‌گوی

The birds of the garden are weighing rhymes and telling jests,

تا خواجه می خورد، به غزل‌های پهلوی

so that the master may drink his wine to Pahlavi ghazals.

جمشید، جز حکایت جام، از جهان نبرد

Jamshid took nothing from the world but the tale of his cup;

زنهار! دل مبند، بر اسباب دنیوی

take care: do not bind your heart to the goods of this world.

این قصه عجب شنو از بخت واژگون

Hear this strange tale of my upside-down fortune:

ما را بکشت یار، به انفاس عیسوی

the beloved killed us with the breath of Jesus.

خوش، وقت بوریا و گدایی و خواب امن

Happy the days of the reed mat, of beggary and untroubled sleep,

کاین عیش، نیست درخور اورنگ خسروی

for such pleasure is not to be had on the throne of kings.

چشمت، به غمزه، خانه مردم، خراب کرد

Your eye, with its glance, has ruined the house of people;

مخموریـت مباد، که خوش مست می‌روی

may you never suffer the morning after, for you walk so sweetly drunk.

دهقان سال‌خورده، چه خوش گفت با پسر

How well the old farmer spoke to his son:

کای نور چشم من! به جز از کشته، ندروی

"Light of my eyes, you will reap nothing but what you have sown."

ساقی، مگر وظیفه حافظ، زیاده داد

Saqi, perhaps you gave Hafez more than his share,

کآشفته گشت، طره دستار مولوی

for the tail of the mullah's turban has come undone.