Don’t ask me of the love-sickness I’ve endured, Ghazal 270 by Hafez
Don’t ask me of the love-sickness I’ve endured, Ghazal 270 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
دردِ عشقی کشیده‌ام که مَپُرس
زهرِ هجری چشیده‌ام که مَپُرس
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گشته‌ام در جهان و آخرِ کار
دلبری برگزیده‌ام که مپرس
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آن چنان در هوایِ خاکِ دَرَش
می‌رود آبِ دیده‌ام که مپرس
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من به گوشِ خود از دهانش دوش
سخنانی شنیده‌ام که مپرس
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سویِ من لب چه می‌گَزی که «مگوی»
لبِ لعلی گَزیده‌ام که مپرس
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بی تو در کلبهٔ گداییِ خویش
رنج‌هایی کشیده‌ام که مپرس
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همچو حافظ غریب در رَهِ عشق
به مَقامی رسیده‌ام که مپرس
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Description:
English Translation:
Don’t ask me of the love-sickness I’ve endured,
Or the poison of separation I’ve tasted.
I’ve searched the world and in the end,
I’ve chosen a beloved, don’t ask me why.
My tears flow like water towards the dust of their door,
Don’t ask how much.
I heard words from their own lips last night,
Don’t ask what they were.
Why do you bite your lip and say, “Don’t say it”?
I’ve tasted a ruby lip, don’t ask me how.
Without you, in my beggar’s hut,
I’ve endured pains, don’t ask me how much.
Like a lonely Hafez on the path of love,
I’ve reached a station, don’t ask me where.
Explanation of the Ghazal
In this ghazal, Hafez explores themes of love, longing, and the pain of separation. He uses vivid imagery and symbolism to convey his intense emotions.
Key Themes:
Love and longing: The poet expresses a deep longing for his beloved and the pain of separation.
Spiritual journey: The poet uses imagery of the journey, the beloved's door, and the beggar's hut to symbolize the spiritual journey and the search for meaning.
The transience of life: The poet reflects on the impermanence of worldly pleasures and the eternal nature of the soul.
Key Persian terms and nuances:
دردِ عشق: Love-sickness
هجر: Separation
دلبری: Beloved
گدایی: Beggary
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.