Fear not, the lost Joseph will return to Canaan, Ghazal 255 by Hafez

By hamed @hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi | 10 4

یوسفِ گم گشته بازآید به کنعان، غم مخور

کلبهٔ احزان شَوَد روزی گلستان، غم مخور

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ای دل غمدیده، حالت بِه شود، دل بَد مکن

وین سرِ شوریده باز آید به سامان غم مخور

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گر بهارِ عمر باشد باز بر تختِ چمن

چتر گل در سر کَشی، ای مرغِ خوشخوان غم مخور

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دورِ گردون گر دو روزی بر مرادِ ما نرفت

دائماً یکسان نباشد حالِ دوران غم مخور

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هان مَشو نومید چون واقِف نِه‌ای از سِرِّ غیب

باشد اندر پرده بازی‌هایِ پنهان غم مخور

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ای دل اَر سیلِ فنا بنیادِ هستی بَرکَنَد

چون تو را نوح است کشتیبان، ز طوفان غم مخور

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در بیابان گر به شوقِ کعبه خواهی زد قدم

سرزنش‌ها گر کُنَد خارِ مُغیلان غم مخور

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گرچه منزل بس خطرناک است و مقصد بس بعید

هیچ راهی نیست کآن را نیست پایان، غم مخور

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حال ما در فُرقت جانان و اِبرامِ رقیب

جمله می‌داند خدایِ حالْ‌گردان غم مخور

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حافظا در کُنجِ فقر و خلوتِ شب‌هایِ تار

تا بُوَد وِردَت دعا و درس قرآن غم مخور

***


Description:

English Translation:

Fear not, the lost Joseph will return to Canaan,
Your cottage of sorrow will one day become a rose garden.

O sorrowful heart, your state will improve, do not be disheartened,
And this restless head will come to its senses.

If the spring of life returns once more to the grassy throne,
You will hold a flower umbrella, oh sweet-singing bird.

If the wheel of fortune does not turn to our desire for a few days,
The state of the world is not always the same.

Do not despair, for you do not know the secret of the unseen,
There are hidden games going on behind the veil.

O heart, if the flood of annihilation uproots the foundation of existence,
Since Noah is your helmsman, do not fear the storm.

If in the desert you wish to take a step towards the Kaaba,
Do not be troubled by the reproaches of the thorns of the desert.

Though the journey is very dangerous and the destination far,
There is no path that has no end.

God, who changes the state of affairs, knows everything
about our state in the separation from our beloved and the triumph of our rivals.

Hafez, in the corner of poverty and the solitude of dark nights,
As long as your constant practice is prayer and the recitation of the Quran, do not worry.


English Translation for Ghazal

English translation for Ghazal.

متن غزل

Original poem in Persian

hamed
@hamed Sept. 19, 2024, 4:55 a.m.

Explanation of the Ghazal

In this ghazal, Hafez offers words of comfort and hope in the face of adversity. He uses vivid imagery and symbolism to convey his message of resilience and trust in a higher power.

hamed
@hamed Sept. 19, 2024, 4:55 a.m.

Key Themes:

Hope and perseverance: The poet encourages the reader to maintain hope even in the face of difficulties.
The spiritual journey: The poet uses religious imagery, such as Joseph and Noah, to symbolize the spiritual journey.
The impermanence of life: The poet reflects on the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of change.

hamed
@hamed Sept. 19, 2024, 4:55 a.m.

Key Persian terms and nuances:

یوسف: Joseph (a prophet in Islam and Judaism)
کنعان: Canaan (a biblical region)
نوح: Noah (a prophet in Islam and Judaism)
کعبه: The Kaaba (the holiest site in Islam)

hamed
@hamed Sept. 19, 2024, 4:55 a.m.

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.
Cultural references: Many of Hafez's poems, including this one, contain allusions to Persian history, literature, and mythology.