Whoever became an intimate of the heart

هر که شد محرم دل در حرم یار بماند

Whoever became an intimate of the heart remained in the beloved's sanctuary,

وان که این کار ندانست در انکار بماند

and whoever did not know this work remained in denial.

اگر از پرده برون شد دل من عیب مکن

If my heart has come out from behind the veil, do not blame it;

شکر ایزد که نه در پرده پندار بماند

thank God it did not remain behind the veil of illusion.

صوفیان واستدند از گرو می همه رخت

The Sufis have all redeemed the clothes they pawned for wine;

دلق ما بود که در خانه خمار بماند

only our ragged cloak remained in the tavern-keeper's house.

محتسب شیخ شد و فسق خود از یاد ببرد

The muhtasib became a shaykh and forgot his own sins;

قصه ماست که در هر سر بازار بماند

it is our story that remains at every corner of the bazaar.

هر می لعل کز آن دست بلورین ستدیم

Every ruby wine we took from that crystal hand

آب حسرت شد و در چشم گهربار بماند

became the water of regret and remained in the pearl-raining eye.

جز دل من کز ازل تا به ابد عاشق رفت

Except for my heart, which has gone on loving from first to last,

جاودان کس نشنیدیم که در کار بماند

we never heard of anyone who stayed at this work forever.

گشت بیمار که چون چشم تو گردد نرگس

The narcissus grew sick wishing to become like your eye;

شیوه تو نشدش حاصل و بیمار بماند

it never learned your manner, and it remained sick.

از صدای سخن عشق ندیدم خوشتر

I have found no sweeter remembrance than the sound of the word of love

یادگاری که در این گنبد دوار بماند

that remains beneath this turning dome.

داشتم دلقی و صد عیب مرا می‌پوشید

I had a ragged cloak that hid a hundred faults of mine;

خرقه رهن می و مطرب شد و زنار بماند

it went in pledge for wine and minstrel, and the zunnar remained.

بر جمال تو چنان صورت چین حیران شد

Before your beauty the painters of China were so bewildered

که حدیثش همه‌جا در در و دیوار بماند

that their story remains everywhere on door and wall.

به تماشاگه زلفش دل حافظ روزی

One day the heart of Hafez went to gaze upon her curl,

شد که بازآید و جاوید گرفتار بماند

meaning to come back, and remained captive forever.