I swear by the majesty, power, and glory of King Shoja, Ghazal 292 by Hafez
I swear by the majesty, power, and glory of King Shoja, Ghazal 292 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
قسم به حشمت و جاه و جلالِ شاه شجاع
که نیست با کَسَم از بهرِ مال و جاه نزاع
***
شرابِ خانگیم بس مِیِ مُغانِه بیار
حریفِ باده رسید ای رفیقِ توبه وِداع
***
خدای را به مِی‌ام شست و شویِ خِرقه کنید
که من نمی‌شِنَوَم بویِ خیر از این اوضاع
***
ببین که رقص کُنان می‌رود به نالهٔ چنگ
کسی که رُخصه نفرمودی اِسْتِماعِ سَماع
***
به عاشقان نظری کن به شُکرِ این نعمت
که من غلامِ مطیعم، تو پادشاهِ مُطاع
***
به فیضِ جرعهٔ جامِ تو تشنه‌ایم، ولی
نمی‌کنیم دلیری نمی‌دهیم صُداع
***
جبین و چهرهٔ حافظ خدا جدا مَکُناد
ز خاکِ بارگه کبریایِ شاه شجاع
***
Description:
English Translation:
I swear by the majesty, power, and glory of King Shoja
That I have no quarrel with anyone for wealth or status.
Bring me the wine of my home, the wine of the Magi,
O companion of repentance and farewell, the time for wine has come.
For God's sake, wash and purify my robe with wine,
For I hear no good scent from this situation.
See how someone is dancing to the sound of the lute,
Someone who has not been given permission to listen to music.
Look upon the lovers with gratitude for this blessing,
For I am a submissive servant, and you are the obeyed king.
We are thirsty for the grace of your cup, but
We do not dare, we do not cause headaches.
May God not separate Hafez's forehead and face
From the dust of the threshold of the majesty of King Shoja.
Explanation of the Ghazal
This ghazal by Hafez is a celebration of wine, love, and the carefree life. It also contains a subtle political message, praising King Shoja.
Key Themes:
Celebration of wine and love: The poet extols the pleasures of wine and love, suggesting that they can lead to spiritual enlightenment.
Criticism of hypocrisy: The poet criticizes the hypocrisy of those who claim to be pious but enjoy worldly pleasures.
Praise of the king: The poet praises King Shajاع and seeks his favor.
Key Persian terms and nuances:
شاه شجاع: King Shajاع (a historical figure)
مِغان: Magi, a reference to Zoroastrian priests, often associated with wine
خِرقه: Sufi robe, symbolizing spiritual purity
سَماع: Sufi whirling dance
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.
Historical and political references: The ghazal may contain allusions to specific historical events or political figures.