All thanks to God that the door of the tavern is open: Ghazal 40 by Hafez
All thanks to God that the door of the tavern is open: Ghazal 40 by Hafez
By
@admin | poet: Hafez Shirazi
اَلمِنَّةُ لِلَّه که درِ میکده باز است
زان رو که مرا بر در او رویِ نیاز است
***
خُم‌ها همه در جوش و خروشند ز مستی
وان می که در آن جاست حقیقت نه مَجاز است
***
از وی همه مستی و غرور است و تَکَبُر
وز ما همه بیچارگی و عجز و نیاز است
***
رازی که بَرِ غیر نگفتیم و نگوییم
با دوست بگوییم که او محرمِ راز است
***
شرحِ شِکَنِ زلفِ خَم اندر خَمِ جانان
کوته نتوان کرد که این قِصه دراز است
***
بارِ دلِ مجنون و خَمِ طُرِّهٔ لیلی
رخسارهٔ محمود و کفِ پایِ ایاز است
***
بردوخته‌ام دیده چو باز از همه عالم
تا دیدهٔ من بر رُخِ زیبایِ تو باز است
***
در کعبهٔ کویِ تو هر آن کس که بیاید
از قبلهٔ ابرویِ تو در عینِ نماز است
***
ای مجلسیان، سوزِ دلِ حافظِ مسکین
از شمع بپرسید که در سوز و گداز است
***
Description:
English Translation:
All thanks to God that the door of the tavern is open,
For I have a face of need at its door.
The jars are all boiling and roaring with intoxication,
And the wine that is in them is truth, not illusion.
From it comes all intoxication, arrogance, and pride,
And from us all wretchedness, weakness, and need.
The secret that we haven't told and won't tell to others,
We'll tell to a friend, for he is the confidant of secrets.
To describe the breaking of the beloved's curly locks,
One cannot be brief, for this story is long.
The burden of Majnun's heart and the curl of Layla's hair
Are the face of Mahmoud and the sole of Ayaz.
I have closed my eyes like a hawk from all the world,
Until my eyes are open to your beautiful face.
Whoever comes to the Kaaba of your lane,
Is in prayer from the direction of your eyebrow.
O companions of the assembly, ask the candle about the sorrow of the poor Hafez,
For it is burning and melting away.
Explanation of the Ghazal
In this ghazal, Hafez expresses his deep longing for the beloved and his desire for spiritual union. He uses the imagery of the tavern and wine as metaphors for divine love and spiritual ecstasy.
Key Themes:
Divine Love: The beloved is often interpreted as a symbol of divine love.
Spiritual Ecstasy: The poet longs for a state of spiritual intoxication and bliss.
The Tavern as a Symbol: The tavern is used as a metaphor for a place of spiritual seeking.
Secrecy and Intimacy: The poet emphasizes the importance of sharing secrets with a true friend.
Key Persian terms and their nuances:
میکده: Tavern
مجنون: A legendary lover from Arabic poetry
لیلی: The beloved of Majnun
محمود: A reference to Mahmud of Ghazni, a historical figure
ایاز: A servant of Mahmud of Ghazni
This ghazal is a beautiful example of Hafez's poetic mastery, combining deep spiritual meaning with exquisite language and imagery. The poet's exploration of love, mysticism, and the search for meaning is a universal theme that resonates with readers across cultures and time periods.