At dawn, when the night’s intoxication, Ghazal 428 by Hafez

By hamed @hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi

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Description:

In this ghazāl, Hafez explores themes of love, spirituality, and the transient nature of life. The poet uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey his ideas.

Key Themes:

Love and intoxication: The poet uses the imagery of wine and intoxication to symbolize the spiritual state of being in love.
Spiritual journey: The poem suggests a journey towards spiritual enlightenment and union with the divine.
The nature of reality: Hafez questions the nature of reality and the limitations of human understanding.


English Translation for Ghazal

At dawn, when the night’s intoxication
I took wine with a lute and a tambourine


I set reason as a provision on the path of wine
And departed from the city of existence

My wine-selling love gave a coquettish glance
Which made me secure from the deceit of time

From the wine-server with the bow-like eyebrows, I heard
“Don’t aim the arrow of blame”

Don’t narrow your aim from the middle of the road
If you see yourself in the middle

Don’t set this trap for another bird
For the Simorgh’s nest is high

Who can tie the knot of union with royal beauty?
Who plays with love eternally?

The companion, the musician, and the wine-server are all him
The thought of water and flowers is an excuse on the way

Give me the ship of wine so we can sail happily
From this endless, unknown sea

Our existence is a riddle, Hafez
Whose investigation is magic and a fable

Ghazal in Persian

سحرگاهان که مخمور شبانه

گرفتم باده با چنگ و چغانه

 

نهادم عقل را ره توشه از می

ز شهر هستیش کردم روانه

 

نگار می فروشم عشوه‌ای داد

که ایمن گشتم از مکر زمانه

 

ز ساقی کمان ابرو شنیدم

که ای تیر ملامت را نشانه

 

نبندی زان میان طرفی کمروار

اگر خود را ببینی در میانه

 

برو این دام بر مرغی دگر نه

که عنقا را بلند است آشیانه

 

که بندد طرف وصل از حسن شاهی؟

که با خود عشق بازد جاودانه

 

ندیم و مطرب و ساقی همه اوست

خیال آب و گل در ره بهانه

 

بده کشتی می تا خوش برانیم

از این دریای ناپیدا کرانه

 

وجود ما معماییست حافظ

که تحقیقش فسون است و فسانه


hamed
@hamed Oct. 11, 2024, 4:03 p.m.

Key Persian terms and nuances:

مخمور: intoxicated
چنگ: lute
چغانه: tambourine
عقل: reason
نگار: beloved

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.
Simorgh: A mythical bird in Persian mythology, often symbolizing divine perfection.