A thousand thanks that I have seen, to my heart's content, Ghazal 258 by Hafez
A thousand thanks that I have seen, to my heart's content, Ghazal 258 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
هزار شُکر که دیدم به کامِ خویشت باز
ز رویِ صدق و صفا گشته با دلم دَمساز
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رَوَندگانِ طریقت رَهِ بلا سِپَرَند
رفیقِ عشق چه غم دارد از نَشیب و فراز
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غمِ حبیب نهان بِه ز گفت و گوی رقیب
که نیست سینهٔ اربابِ کینه، محرمِ راز
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اگر چه حُسنِ تو از عشقِ غیر مُستَغنیست
من آن نیَم که از این عشقبازی آیم باز
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چه گویَمَت که ز سوزِ درون چه می‌بینم
ز اشک پُرس حکایت که من نیَم غَمّاز
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چه فتنه بود که مَشّاطِهٔ قضا انگیخت
که کرد نرگسِ مستش سیَه به سرمهٔ ناز
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بدین سپاس که مجلس مُنَوَّر است به دوست
گَرَت چو شمع جفایی رِسَد بسوز و بساز
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غَرَض کِرشمهٔ حُسن است ور نه حاجت نیست
جمالِ دولتِ محمود را به زلفِ ایاز
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غزل سُرایی ناهید صرفه‌ای نَبَرَد
در آن مَقام که حافظ برآورد آواز
***
Description:
English Translation:
A thousand thanks that I have seen, to my heart's content,
That with pure sincerity, your heart has become attuned to mine.
Those who travel the spiritual path bear the burden of tribulation,
But a companion of love has no fear of ups and downs.
The sorrow of a beloved is better hidden than spoken of to a rival,
For the hearts of the envious are not privy to secrets.
Though your beauty does not need the love of others,
I am not one to turn away from this love affair.
What shall I say of the burning within me?
Ask my tears for a tale, for I am no tale-bearer.
What a calamity it was that the coquette of fate stirred up,
Making your intoxicated narcissus dark with the kohl of pride.
It is enough for me that this gathering is illuminated by your friend,
Even if, like a candle of cruelty, you burn and consume me.
The point is the coquetry of beauty, and nothing else is needed,
To compare the beauty of Mahmud's kingdom to the curl of Iyaz.
Nahid's poetry is of no use,
In that realm where Hafez raised his voice.
Explanation of the Ghazal
In this ghazal, Hafez expresses deep gratitude for the love and companionship of his beloved. He explores themes of spiritual journey, the complexities of love, and the beauty of human connection.
Key Themes:
Love and companionship: The poet expresses deep gratitude for the love and companionship of his beloved.
Spiritual journey: The poet uses imagery of the spiritual path to describe the journey of love.
Beauty and the beloved: The poet extols the beauty of his beloved and the power of love.
Key Persian terms and nuances:
طریقت: Spiritual path
نشیب و فراز: Ups and downs
حبیب: Beloved
رقیب: Rival
نرجس: Narcissus (a type of flower, often used as a metaphor for the eye)
محمود: Mahmud of Ghazni (a powerful sultan in the 11th century)
ایاز: A legendary figure in Persian poetry, often associated with beauty and grace
نهر: Nahr al-Din, a contemporary poet of Hafez, often compared to him
Some of the nuances that are difficult to fully capture in translation include:
The intricate use of imagery: Hafez often uses multiple layers of symbolism and metaphor to convey his meaning.
The musicality of the Persian language: The sounds and rhythms of the Persian language contribute significantly to the emotional impact of the poem.
Cultural references: Many of Hafez's poems, including this one, contain allusions to Persian history, literature, and mythology.