As much as I’ve spoken of sorrow to physicians, Ghazal 383 by Hafez

By hamed @hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi

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Description:

This ghazāl by Hafez expresses a deep sense of longing and sorrow, combined with a spiritual yearning. The poet laments the pain of love and the seeming indifference of the beloved.

Key Themes:

Love and longing: The poet expresses a deep longing for his beloved and the pain of separation.
Spiritual seeking: The poet turns to spiritual practices and the guidance of the divine to alleviate his suffering.
The impermanence of beauty: The poet reflects on the transitory nature of beauty and the inevitability of loss.


English Translation for Ghazal

As much as I’ve spoken of sorrow to physicians,
They haven’t cured this poor, lonely one.


That rose that is in the hand of the wind every moment,
Tell the wind to be ashamed of the nightingales.

O Lord, grant us safety so that we may see again
The faces of our beloveds with loving eyes.

There’s no room for love in Your book of favor, O Lord
May our rivals never be satisfied.

O Bestower, at Your table of bounty,
How long shall we remain deprived?

Hafez would not have become a lover of the world
If he had listened to the advice of the wise.

Ghazal in Persian

چندان که گفتم غم با طبیبان

درمان نکردند مسکین غریبان

 

آن گل که هر دم در دست بادیست

گو شرم بادش از عندلیبان

 

یا رب امان ده تا بازبیند

چشم محبان روی حبیبان

 

درج محبت بر مهر خود نیست

یا رب مبادا کام رقیبان

 

ای منعم آخر بر خوان جودت

تا چند باشیم از بی نصیبان

 

حافظ نگشتی شیدای گیتی

گر می‌شنیدی پند ادیبان


hamed
@hamed Oct. 9, 2024, 1:25 p.m.

Key Persian terms and nuances:

طبیبان: physicians
عندلیبان: nightingales, a symbol of love and beauty
محبان: lovers
حبیبان: beloveds
رقیبان: rivals
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.