New Video Posted: Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 063

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Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 063

Description: Ghazal 063 from Divan of Hafez

No one has ever seen your face, yet you have a thousand rivals;
You're still in bud, yet a hundred nightingales sing your praises.

If I come to your street, it's not so strange;
For like me, there are thousands of strangers in that land.

In love, a monastery and a tavern are no different;
Wherever there is love, there is a glimpse of the beloved.

Where they make a show of monastic work,
There's the monk's bell and the name of the cross.

Has any lover ever called out without their beloved noticing?
O master, it's not a sickness; if it were, there would be a physician.

Hafez's cry—all this wailing—is not in vain;
There is a strange tale and a wondrous story here.

New Video Posted: Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 062

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Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 062

Description: Ghazal 062 from Divan of Hafez

Welcome, O messenger of the longing ones, bring tidings of the Beloved,
So that I may gladly sacrifice my life for the Beloved’s name.

Ever enamored and infatuated, like a nightingale in a cage,
My parrot-like heart is captivated by the Beloved’s sugar and almonds.

Her tresses are a snare, her mole the bait of that snare, and I,
In hope of a morsel, have fallen into the Beloved’s trap.

My head will never recover from its intoxication until the Day of Resurrection,
Whoever, like me, has taken a sip from the Beloved’s cup from eternity.

I shall not speak much of my longing, for
It would be troublesome to press the Beloved further.

If I could get a handful, I would put it in my eyes like kohl,
The dust of the path that is graced by the Beloved’s steps.

My desire is for union, while the Beloved desires separation,
I have given up my own desire to fulfill the Beloved’s wish.

Hafez burns in the pain of love for the Beloved and remains without remedy,
For there is no cure for the Beloved’s restless pain.

New Video Posted: Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 061

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Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 061

Description: Ghazal 061 from Divan of Hafez

O gentle breeze, if you happen to pass through the beloved's land,
Bring a fragrant breath from the beloved's amber tresses.

I would gladly sacrifice my life in gratitude
If you bring a message from my beloved to me.

And if, by chance, you carry no message from that exalted one,
Then bring a speck of dust from the beloved's door for my eyes.

I, a beggar, longing for union with the beloved—alas,
I can only see the beloved's form in my dreams.

My heart, like a cypress, trembles like a willow
With longing for the beloved's cypress-like stature.

Even though the beloved does not value us,
I would not sell a hair from the beloved's head for the whole world.

What does it matter if the beloved's heart is free from the bonds of sorrow?
For as long as Hafez, the lowly one, is the beloved's slave and servant.

New Video Posted: Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 060

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Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 060

Description: Ghazal 060 from Divan of Hafez

The famed messenger who arrived from the land of the beloved,
Brought a charm for my soul from the musk-scented line of the beloved.

It gladly gives signs of the majesty and beauty of the beloved,
And sweetly tells tales of the honor and dignity of the beloved.

I gave my heart upon hearing the good news, yet I feel ashamed,
For offering my counterfeit coin of love as tribute to the beloved.

Thanks be to God that, with the aid of a generous fate,
All affairs now align with the desires of the beloved.

What say does the revolving heavens or the moon’s orbit have?
They spin and turn according to the will of the beloved.

Even if the storm of turmoil should ravage both worlds,
I and the light of my eyes remain on the path, awaiting the beloved.

O morning breeze, bring me the jewel-like kohl,
From that blessed dust that became the path of the beloved.

We stand at the threshold of love, with heads bowed in need,
Waiting to see who will be graced by the sweet sleep in the embrace of the beloved.

What fear if the enemy speaks ill of Hafez with malicious intent?
Thanks to God, I am not ashamed before the beloved.

New Video Posted: Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 059

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Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 059

Description: Ghazal 059 from Divan of Hafez

I have hope for a kind gesture from my Beloved,
For I have committed a crime, yet I hope for His forgiveness.

I know He will overlook my transgression, for though
He may seem aloof, He is in fact a merciful angel.

We wept so much that everyone who passed by
Said, seeing our tears streaming, "What is this?"

That mouth is nowhere to be seen, I find no trace of it,
There is a curl of hair, but I don’t know what that hair is.

I am amazed by the image of His imagination, how it does not leave
My sight, but constantly washes and scrubs.

Without a word, Your tresses draw my heart,
Who else would dare speak or argue with Your captivating locks?

For a lifetime I’ve smelled the scent of Your tresses,
That fragrance still lingers in my heart’s nostrils.

Hafez, Your troubled state is bad, but
The fragrance of the beloved’s tresses makes Your troubles seem good.

New Video Posted: Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 058

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Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 058

Description: Ghazal 058 from Divan of Hafez

Our devotion and the threshold of the Beloved
Whatever befalls us is a result of our devotion to Him.

I've seen none like the Beloved, though I've compared Him to moon and sun.
I've placed mirrors before the Beloved's face.

What can the gentle breeze say of my narrow heart?
It's as twisted as the petals of a rosebud yearning for you.

I am not a mere jug in this tavern of the wise,
Many a palace in this world is just a pile of stones and jugs.

Did you perhaps comb your amber-scented tresses?
For the wind has become like musk and the dust like amber.

Every flower petal in the meadow is an offering to your face,
Every cypress by the river is sacrificed to your stature.

The eloquent tongue is too weak to describe this yearning,
What hope is there for a broken, useless pen?

Your face has entered my heart, I shall find my desire,
For a good omen follows a good sight.

Hafez's heart is not now inflamed with lust,
But is marked from eternity, like a wild tulip.

New Video Posted: Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 057

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Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 057

Description: Ghazal 057 from Divan of Hafez

That dark-haired one with whom the sweetness of the world resides,
With wine-dark eyes, a smiling lip, and a joyful heart.

Though sweet-tongued kings are many,
She is the Solomon of her time, with the seal of authority.

With a beautiful face, perfect artistry, and a pure heart,
Naturally, the hearts of the pure of both worlds are with her.

The dark mole on her wheat-colored cheek
Holds the secret of that grain which led Adam astray.

My beloved has decided to journey, God help her companions,
What shall I do with my wounded heart, which has its balm in her?

To whom can I say this, that that hard-hearted one
Killed us, but also has the breath of Mary's Jesus?

Hafez is one of the believers, cherish him,
For he has a very generous and noble spirit.

New Video Posted: Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 056

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Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 056

Description: Ghazal 056 from Divan of Hafez

My heart is the tent of his love,
My eye is the mirror of his beauty.

I, who cannot comprehend the two worlds,
Am under the burden of his favor.

You and the Tree of Paradise, and we and the stature of the beloved,
Everyone's thought is according to their worthiness.

If I am stained, what wonder is that?
The whole world is witness to his purity.

How can I be in that sanctuary where the morning breeze
Is the guardian of the sanctity of his privacy?

Let not the sight of my eye be without his thought,
For this corner is the place of his solitude.

Every new flower that adorns the meadow
Is from the effect of his color and fragrance.

Majnun's turn has passed, and now it is our turn,
Everyone has their turn for five days.

The kingdom of love and the treasure of joy,
Whatever I have is due to the blessing of his endeavor.

If my heart and I are sacrificed, what does it matter?
The goal is the safety of his well-being.

Do not see my outward poverty, for Hafez
Has a heart that is a treasure trove of his love.

New Video Posted: Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 055

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Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 055

Description: Ghazal 055 from Divan of Hafez

The curve of your tresses is a snare for both faith and disbelief,
A mere glimpse of your beauty is proof of this.

Your beauty is a miracle of loveliness, but
The tale of your glances is a clear enchantment.

Who can bear the life from your coquettish eyes?
They are always on the lookout with their bow.

A hundred blessings on those black eyes
Which are so magical in slaying lovers.

What a science is the science of love's celestial sphere
Where the eighth heaven is the seventh earth.

Do you think the slanderer has gone and taken your life?
His reckoning is with the noble scribes.

Hafez, do not feel safe from the snare of her tresses,
For she has stolen hearts and is now in the bonds of religion.

New Video Posted: Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 054

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Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 054

Description: Ghazal 054 from Divan of Hafez

My eyes, filled with tears, are bloodshot,
See how the people are in their longing for you.

Thinking of your ruby lips and your wine-drunk eyes,
From the cup of sorrow, I drink a ruby wine of blood.

If the sun of your beauty rises from the east of the mountain pass,
My fortune will be auspicious.

The tale of your sweet lips is the speech of Farhad,
The curl of your tresses is the station of Majnun.

Seek my heart, for your stature is like a cypress that attracts hearts,
Speak, for your words are delicate and harmonious.

O saki, bring me relief from afar with a cup of wine,
For the pain in my heart is from the cruelty of the turning sky.

Since the day the beloved river left my eyes,
The hem of my garment is like the Jihun River.

How can my sorrowful heart be happy?
By choice, when it is beyond my control.

Hafez, in his unconsciousness, seeks his beloved,
Like a pauper who demands the treasure of Qarun.

New Video Posted: Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 053

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Ghazaliyat of Hafez Ghazal 053

Description: Ghazal 053 from Divan of Hafez

I am one who finds the corner of the tavern his monastery,
The prayer of the Magian sage is my morning incantation.

If I have not the morning song of the lute, what does it matter?
My tune at dawn is the sigh of my apology.

I am free from king and beggar, thanks be to God,
A beggar at my beloved's door, a king is my state.

My purpose in mosque and tavern is your union,
God is my witness, I have no other thought.

Unless the sword of fate strikes my tent, or not,
Fleeing from the door of fortune is not my custom or way.

Since the day I set my face toward this threshold,
The summit of the sun's throne has been my resting place.

Though sin was not our choice, Hafez,
Be polite on the path, say that it is my sin.

I am excited to announce the completion of my new translation project: Ghazals of Hafez Shirazi. This collection of Hafez's most celebrated poems offers a fresh and accessible rendering of the Persian master's work into English.

Hafez, a 14th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic, is renowned for his lyrical beauty, profound insights, and evocative imagery. His ghazals, with their themes of love, loss, and the spiritual journey, continue to captivate readers worldwide.

My translation aims to capture the essence of Hafez's poetry while remaining faithful to the original text. I have strived to convey the nuances of his language, the richness of his imagery, and the depth of his spiritual insights.

I hope that this translation will introduce new readers to the beauty and wisdom of Hafez's poetry and inspire a deeper appreciation for his work.

New Ghazal Posted: Ask for wine and scatter roses, what more do you seek from time? Ghazal 495 by Hafez

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Ask for wine and scatter roses, what more do you seek from time? Ghazal 495 by Hafez

Description: In this ghazāl, Hafez celebrates the beauty of nature and the pleasures of life. He uses vivid imagery and poetic devices to create a sense of joy and exuberance.

Key Themes:

The beauty of nature: Hafez praises the beauty of roses, gardens, and the natural world.
Carpe diem: The poet encourages readers to seize the moment and enjoy life's pleasures.
Love and beauty: The ghazāl is filled with references to beauty, love, and the beloved.

New Ghazal Posted: O heart, if you escape from that well of deceit, Ghazal 494 by Hafez

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O heart, if you escape from that well of deceit, Ghazal 494 by Hafez

Description: In this ghazāl, Hafez expresses deep longing for a beloved and explores themes of spiritual longing, the dangers of worldly desires, and the hope for divine intervention.

Key Themes:

Love and longing: The poet expresses an intense longing for a beloved, often using nature imagery to convey his emotions.
Spiritual journey: The poem alludes to spiritual concepts and the journey of the soul.
The dangers of worldly desires: Hafez warns against the temptations of worldly pleasures and the importance of seeking spiritual enlightenment.

New Ghazal Posted: O King of beauties, grant relief from this loneliness, Ghazal 493 by Hafez

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O King of beauties, grant relief from this loneliness, Ghazal 493 by Hafez

Description: In this ghazāl, Hafez expresses deep longing for a beloved and explores themes of love, loss, and the impermanence of earthly pleasures. He uses vivid imagery and Sufi symbolism to convey his message.

Key Themes:

Love and longing: The poet expresses an intense longing for a beloved and the pain of separation.
The impermanence of life: The theme of the transience of life and beauty is explored through the image of the fading rose.
Spiritual journey: The poet uses Sufi symbolism to convey his spiritual quest and longing for divine union.

New Ghazal Posted: A greeting like the sweet scent of familiarity, Ghazal 492 by Hafez

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A greeting like the sweet scent of familiarity, Ghazal 492 by Hafez

Description: In this ghazāl, Hafez expresses feelings of loneliness, betrayal, and spiritual longing. He contrasts the superficiality of worldly relationships with the depth of spiritual connection.

Key Themes:

Friendship and betrayal: The poet laments the loss of true friends and the betrayal he has experienced.
Spiritual longing: He seeks a deeper spiritual connection and criticizes superficial religiosity.
The tavern as a symbol: The tavern is used as a metaphor for a place of spiritual enlightenment.

New Ghazal Posted: I’ve fixed my gaze upon the moon-like brow, Ghazal 491 by Hafez

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I’ve fixed my gaze upon the moon-like brow, Ghazal 491 by Hafez

Description: In this ghazāl, Hafez expresses deep longing and devotion for a beloved. He uses vivid imagery and Sufi symbolism to convey his intense emotions.

Key Themes:

Love and longing: The poet's heart is consumed by love and longing for a beloved.
Spiritual journey: The imagery of the heart, the soul, and the journey of life is used to convey a spiritual quest.
Beauty and the beloved: The beloved is described using beautiful imagery, often associated with celestial bodies like the moon and stars.

New Ghazal Posted: In all the taverns of the Magi, there's none so ecstatic as I, Ghazal 490 by Hafez

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In all the taverns of the Magi, there's none so ecstatic as I, Ghazal 490 by Hafez

Description: In this ghazāl, Hafez expresses deep longing for a beloved, while also delving into themes of spirituality, worldly desires, and the complexities of love. He uses vivid imagery and Sufi symbolism to convey his message.

Key Themes:

Love and longing: The poet expresses a deep and passionate longing for a beloved.
Spiritual journey: Hafez uses the imagery of wine and the tavern as symbols of spiritual intoxication and the quest for divine knowledge.
Worldly attachments: He critiques the superficiality of worldly pursuits and the importance of seeking deeper meaning.

New Ghazal Posted: O one whose face reveals the lights of kingship, Ghazal 489 by Hafez

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O one whose face reveals the lights of kingship, Ghazal 489 by Hafez

Description: In this ghazāl, Hafez addresses a powerful and influential individual, possibly a ruler or a spiritual guide. He employs rich imagery and symbolism to convey his admiration and respect for this person while also expressing his own desires and concerns.

Key Themes:

Divine authority: The addressee is portrayed as possessing divine wisdom and power.
Spiritual journey: The poet seeks spiritual guidance and enlightenment from this powerful figure.
Humility and repentance: Hafez expresses his own shortcomings and seeks forgiveness.

New Ghazal Posted: At dawn, the tavern's caller, seeking prosperity, Ghazal 488 by Hafez

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At dawn, the tavern's caller, seeking prosperity, Ghazal 488 by Hafez

Description: In this ghazāl, Hafez delves into themes of spirituality, worldly attachments, and the pursuit of true knowledge. He uses vivid imagery and Sufi symbolism to convey his message.

Key Themes:

Spiritual journey: Hafez encourages the seeker to embark on a spiritual quest and to seek divine knowledge.
Worldly attachments: He warns against the dangers of being overly attached to worldly possessions and power.
The importance of humility: The poet emphasizes the importance of humility and detachment from worldly desires.

New Ghazal Posted: O uninformed one, strive to become knowledgeable, Ghazal 487 by Hafez

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O uninformed one, strive to become knowledgeable, Ghazal 487 by Hafez

Description: In this ghazāl, Hafez is urging the seeker to embark on a spiritual journey and to strive for divine union. He uses rich imagery and Sufi concepts to convey his message.

Key Themes:

Spiritual journey: Hafez encourages the reader to embark on a spiritual quest and to seek divine knowledge.
Self-purification: The poet emphasizes the importance of purifying the soul and detaching from worldly desires.
Divine union: The ultimate goal of the spiritual journey is union with the divine.

New Ghazal Posted: Last night, a nightingale from a cypress branch, Ghazal 486 by Hafez

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Last night, a nightingale from a cypress branch, Ghazal 486 by Hafez

Description: In this ghazāl, Hafez delves into themes of spirituality, worldly attachments, and the complexities of love. He uses rich imagery and allusions to convey his profound thoughts.

Key Themes:

Spiritual enlightenment: Hafez refers to the spiritual journey and the quest for divine knowledge.
Worldly attachments: He warns against the dangers of being overly attached to worldly possessions and pleasures.
The complexities of love: The poet explores the paradoxical nature of love, both its joy and its pain.

New Ghazal Posted: O cupbearer, it's a cloudy spring day by the stream, Ghazal 485 by Hafez

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O cupbearer, it's a cloudy spring day by the stream, Ghazal 485 by Hafez

Description: In this ghazāl, Hafez offers spiritual advice and critiques societal hypocrisy. He urges the reader to seek true spiritual fulfillment and to avoid the superficiality of worldly pursuits.

Key Themes:

Spiritual hypocrisy: Hafez criticizes those who claim to be spiritual but are inwardly corrupt.
The pursuit of pleasure: The poet encourages the reader to enjoy life's pleasures but with a spiritual purpose.
Self-reflection and growth: Hafez emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and personal growth.

New Ghazal Posted: Unless you sit by a stream in desire, Ghazal 484 by Hafez

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Unless you sit by a stream in desire, Ghazal 484 by Hafez

Description: In this ghazāl, Hafez addresses a beloved, expressing a deep sense of longing, devotion, and frustration. He uses vivid imagery and poetic devices to convey his emotions.

Key Themes:

Love and longing: The poet expresses a deep longing for his beloved and the pain of separation.
Spiritual purity: Hafez emphasizes the importance of spiritual purity and the negative consequences of hypocrisy.
Patience and perseverance: The poet urges himself and others to be patient in the face of adversity.