Hafez’s poetry has long enchanted hearts with its blend of mysticism, beauty, and an ever-subtle undercurrent of longing. In this poem, every image is a portal to realms of beauty and devotion—where the beloved’s visage, the whisper of a breeze, and the delicate twist of a lock of hair weave together into an intricate tapestry of spiritual and worldly love. The poem is an invitation to immerse oneself in a world where every moment is alive with the delicate interplay of emotion and art.
The Original Poem
خیالِ رویِ تو در هر طریق همرهِ ماست
نسیمِ مویِ تو، پیوندِ جانِ آگهِ ماستبه رَغمِ مدّعیانی که منعِ عشق کنند
جمالِ چهرهٔ تو، حجّتِ موجّهِ ماستببین که سیبِ زنخدانِ تو چه می‌گوید
هزار یوسفِ مصری، فتاده در چَهِ ماستاگر به زلفِ درازِ تو، دستِ ما نرسد
گناهِ بختِ پریشان و دستِ کوتهِ ماستبه حاجبِ درِ خلوت‌سرایِ خاص بگو
فُلان ز گوشه‌نشینانِ خاکِ درگهِ ماستبه صورت از نظر ما اگر چه محجوب است
همیشه در نظرِ خاطرِ مرفّهِ ماستاگر به سالی حافظ دری زَنَد، بگشای
که سال‌هاست که مشتاقِ رویِ چون مهِ ماست
An English Translation
The thought of your face accompanies me on every road,
And the breeze of your tresses links with my very soul’s code.
Though many claim to forbid love’s fervent art,
The beauty of your countenance is the proof that moves my heart.
Behold what your dimpled cheek dares to say—
A thousand Egyptian Josephs in disarray.
If my hand should never reach your flowing locks so fair,
It is the misfortune of my scattered fate and my inadequacy to bear.
Tell the guardian of the secret garden’s sacred door,
That a certain recluse from the dust of the shrine is no more.
Though your visage may be veiled from my sight,
It forever shines in the memory of a fortunate heart alight.
If Hafez should unlock a door in the course of a year,
It is because I have longed for a face as radiant as the moon so clear.
Musings on the Verses
Hafez, in his inimitable style, envelops us in a universe where the physical and the spiritual merge into one enchanted vision. The poem opens with the assertion that the beloved’s image is a constant companion—present in every step taken on life’s journey. Such vivid imagery is not merely about longing; it speaks to the transformative power of love, where even a gentle breeze carries the promise of union.
Each couplet unfolds like a miniature story: a dimpled cheek becomes a narrative of lost yet cherished beauty, and a lock of hair symbolizes both unattainable grace and the poet’s own vulnerability. Hafez subtly critiques those who would shun the passion of love, affirming that true beauty—whether of the face or the soul—defies all worldly prohibitions.
The poem also navigates the tension between desire and restraint. There is a bittersweet recognition of what is denied, as well as a hope that even an unlocked door, symbolized by the eventual opening of fate’s gateway, might lead to an encounter with a love as luminous as the moon.
Concluding Thoughts
In these verses, Hafez gifts us a timeless meditation on the nature of love and beauty. His language, rich with metaphor and delicate nuance, reminds us that even when the beloved seems distant or veiled, her presence is eternally woven into the fabric of our being. The poem is a celebration of longing—a yearning that transforms everyday moments into a dance of beauty and mysticism.
As we reflect on Hafez’s words, we are invited to embrace our own journeys with an open heart. For in the interplay of seen and unseen, spoken and unspoken, lies a divine dialogue that transcends time—a dialogue that continues to illuminate the path for all who dare to seek the light amidst the shadows.
