The tale of separation

زبان خامه ندارد سر بیان فراق

The pen's tongue has no power to tell of separation,

وگرنه شرح دهم با تو داستان فراق

or else I would set out for you the tale of separation.

دریغ مدت عمرم که بر امید وصال

Alas for the span of my life, which, in the hope of union,

به سر رسید و نیامد به سر زمان فراق

has come to its end, while the time of separation has not.

سری که بر سر گردون به فخر می‌سودم

The head that I used to rub proudly against the top of the sky,

به راستان که نهادم، بر آستان فراق

I swear by the truthful, I have laid on the threshold of separation.

چگونه باز کنم بال در هوای وصال

How can I spread my wings in the air of union,

که ریخت مرغ دلم پر در آشیان فراق

when the bird of my heart has shed its feathers in the nest of separation?

کنون چه چاره که در بحر غم به گردابی

What remedy now, when into a whirlpool in the sea of sorrow

فتاد زورق صبرم ز بادبان فراق

the boat of my patience has fallen, driven by the sail of separation?

بسی نماند که کشتی عمر غرقه شود

Little is left before the ship of my life is wrecked

ز موج شوق تو در بحر بی‌کران فراق

by the wave of longing for you in the boundless sea of separation.

اگر به دست من افتد فراق را بکشم

If separation falls into my hands, I will kill it;

که روز هجر سیه باد و خان و مان فراق

may the day of absence be black, and the house and home of separation!

رفیق خیل خیالیم و همنشین شکیب

We are companions of a troop of fancies and comrades of patience,

قرین آتش هجران و هم قران فراق

close to the fire of absence and yoked to separation.

چگونه دعوی وصلت کنم به جان؟ که شده‌ست

How can I stake a claim with my life to union with you, when

تنم وکیل قضا و دلم ضمان فراق

my body has become fate's agent and my heart separation's guarantor?

ز سوز شوق دلم شد کباب دور از یار

From the burning of longing, far from the friend, my heart has turned to roasted meat;

مدام خون جگر می‌خورم ز خوان فراق

I eat my liver's blood forever from the table of separation.

فلک چو دید سرم را اسیر چنبر عشق

When the sky saw my head captive in the ring of love,

ببست گردن صبرم به ریسمان فراق

it bound the neck of my patience with the rope of separation.

به پای شوق گر این ره به سر شدی حافظ

If this road could be travelled to its end on the feet of longing, Hafez,

به دست هجر ندادی کسی عنان فراق

no one would hand the reins of separation over to absence.