A voice whispered from the corner of the tavern last night, Ghazal 284 by Hafez
A voice whispered from the corner of the tavern last night, Ghazal 284 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
هاتفی از گوشهٔ میخانه دوش
گفت ببخشند گنه، مِی بنوش
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لطفِ الهی بِکُنَد کارِ خویش
مژدهٔ رحمت برساند سروش
***
این خِرَدِ خام به میخانه بَر
تا مِیِ لعل آوَرَدَش خون به جوش
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گرچه وصالش نه به کوشش دهند
هر قَدَر ای دل که توانی بکوش
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لطفِ خدا بیشتر از جرمِ ماست
نکتهٔ سربسته چه دانی؟ خموش
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گوشِ من و حلقهٔ گیسویِ یار
رویِ من و خاکِ درِ مِی فروش
***
رندیِ حافظ نه گناهیست صَعب
با کَرَمِ پادشه عیب پوش
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داورِ دین، شاه شجاع، آن که کرد
روحِ قدس حلقهٔ امرش به گوش
***
ای مَلِکُ العَرش مرادش بده
و از خطرِ چشمِ بَدَش دار گوش
***
Description:
English Translation:
A voice whispered from the corner of the tavern last night,
"Sins will be forgiven, drink wine."
Divine grace will do its work,
The messenger will bring tidings of mercy.
Bring this raw intellect to the tavern,
So that the ruby wine can bring his blood to a boil.
Though union with her is not easily attained,
Strive as much as you can, O heart.
God's grace is greater than our sin,
What secret meaning do you know? Be silent.
My ear and the curl of my beloved's hair,
My face and the dust of the wine seller's door.
Hafez's roguery is not a grave sin,
With the king's grace, faults are covered.
The judge of religion, the brave king, he who has made
The Holy Spirit listen to his command.
O King of the Universe, grant him his desire,
And protect him from the evil eye.
Explanation of the Ghazal
This ghazal by Hafez is a celebration of love, wine, and the divine. The poet encourages the reader to seek pleasure in life and to trust in the mercy of God.
Key Themes:
Celebration of love and wine: The poet extols the pleasures of love and wine, suggesting that they can lead to spiritual enlightenment.
Divine grace: The poet emphasizes the power of divine grace and forgiveness.
The hypocrisy of religious figures: There is a subtle criticism of religious leaders who condemn pleasure-seeking.
The role of the king: The poet praises the new king and seeks divine blessings for him.
Key Persian terms and nuances:
هاتف: A heavenly voice or messenger
مِی: Wine
خِرَد: Intellect
لعل: Ruby (often used as a metaphor for wine)
کوشش: Effort
رندی: Roguery, a Sufi concept often associated with a playful disregard for conventional morality
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.
Sufi concepts: The poem is rich in Sufi symbolism and concepts, which can be challenging to convey in a different cultural context.
Historical and political references: The ghazal may contain allusions to specific historical events or political figures.