Hold the wine cup around the tulip and be without hypocrisy, Ghazal 274 by Hafez
Hold the wine cup around the tulip and be without hypocrisy, Ghazal 274 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
به دورِ لاله قدح گیر و بی‌ریا می‌باش
به بویِ گُل نفسی همدمِ صبا می‌باش
***
نگویمت که همه ساله مِی پرستی کن
سه ماه مِی خور و نُه ماه پارسا می‌باش
***
چو پیرِ سالِک عشقت به مِی حواله کند
بنوش و منتظرِ رحمتِ خدا می‌باش
***
گَرَت هواست که چُون جَم به سِرِّ غیب رَسی
بیا و همدمِ جامِ جهان نما می‌باش
***
چو غنچه گرچه فروبستگیست کارِ جهان
تو همچو بادِ بهاری گره گشا می‌باش
***
وفا مجوی ز کس ور سخن نمی‌شنوی
به هرزه طالبِ سیمرغ و کیمیا می‌باش
***
مریدِ طاعتِ بیگانگان مشو حافظ
ولی معاشرِ رندانِ پارسا می‌باش
***
Description:
English Translation:
Hold the wine cup around the tulip and be without hypocrisy,
Be a companion to the morning breeze with the scent of flowers.
I’m not telling you to drink wine all year round,
Drink wine for three months and be pious for nine.
When the old sage of love refers you to wine,
Drink and wait for God's mercy.
If you desire to reach the secret of the unseen like Jamshid,
Come and be a companion to the world-revealing cup.
Though the world's work is to be closed like a bud,
Be like the spring breeze, unlocking knots.
Don't expect loyalty from anyone, even if they don't speak,
Be a vain seeker of the Simorgh and the philosopher's stone.
Don't be a disciple of the obedience of strangers, Hafez,
But be an associate of pious revelers.
Explanation of the Ghazal
In this ghazal, Hafez explores themes of love, spirituality, and the pursuit of knowledge. He uses vivid imagery and symbolism to convey his intense emotions.
Key Themes:
Love and spirituality: The poet connects the act of drinking wine with spiritual enlightenment and the pursuit of divine knowledge.
The spiritual journey: The poet uses imagery of the wine cup, the rose, and the mystic 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:
لاله: Tulip
صبا: Morning breeze
جمشید: Jamshid (a legendary king in Persian mythology associated with wisdom and prosperity)
سیمرغ: Simorgh (a mythical bird in Persian mythology, often associated with spiritual guidance)
کیمیا: Philosopher's stone (a mythical substance that could turn base metals into gold, often symbolizing spiritual transformation)
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.