When I become the dust of his road

چون شوم خاک رهش دامن بیفشاند ز من

When I become the dust of his road, he shakes his hem free of me;

ور بگویم دل بگردان رو بگرداند ز من

and if I say, “Turn your heart,” he turns his face from me.

روی رنگین را به هر کس می‌نماید همچو گل

He shows his flushed face to everyone, like the rose,

ور بگویم بازپوشان بازپوشاند ز من

and if I say, “Cover it,” he covers it only from me.

چشم خود را گفتم آخر یک نظر سیرش ببین

I told my eye: at last, look your fill at him just once;

گفت می‌خواهی مگر تا جوی خون راند ز من؟

it said: “Do you want a river of blood to flow from me?”

او به خونم تشنه و من بر لبش تا چون شود

He thirsts for my blood and I for his lip; let us see how it ends:

کام بستانم از او یا داد بستاند ز من

whether I take my wish from him, or he takes his due from me.

گر چو فرهادم به تلخی جان برآید باک نیست

If like Farhad my life departs in bitterness, I have no fear;

بس حکایت‌های شیرین باز می‌ماند ز من

many sweet stories of Shirin will remain behind me.

گر چو شمعش پیش میرم بر غمم خندان شود

If I die before him like a candle, he laughs at my grief;

ور برنجم خاطر نازک برنجاند ز من

and if I take offence, his delicate heart takes offence at me.

دوستان جان داده‌ام بهر دهانش بنگرید

Friends, I have given my life for his mouth; look

کو به چیزی مختصر چون باز می‌ماند ز من

how over so small a thing he still holds back from me.

صبر کن حافظ که گر زین دست باشد درس غم

Be patient, Hafez, for if the lesson of sorrow goes on like this,

عشق در هر گوشه‌ای افسانه‌ای خواند ز من

love will tell a legend of me in every corner.