I turned my face towards his path, but he did not pass by me, Ghazal 139 by Hafez
I turned my face towards his path, but he did not pass by me, Ghazal 139 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
رو بر رَهَش نهادم و بر من گذر نکرد
صد لطف چشم داشتم و یک نظر نکرد
***
سیلِ سرشک ما ز دلش کین به در نَبُرد
در سنگِ خاره قطرهٔ باران اثر نکرد
***
یا رب تو آن جوانِ دلاور نگاه‌دار
کز تیرِ آهِ گوشه‌نشینان حذر نکرد
***
ماهی و مرغْ دوش ز افغانِ من نَخُفت
وان شوخْ‌دیده بین که سر از خواب برنکرد
***
می‌خواستم که میرَمَش اندر قدم چو شمع
او خود گذر به ما چو نسیمِ سحر نکرد
***
جانا کدام سنگدلِ بی‌کفایت است
کاو پیشِ زخمِ تیغِ تو جان را سپر نکرد؟
***
کِلکِ زبان‌بریدهٔ حافظ در انجمن
با کس نگفت رازِ تو تا تَرکِ سر نکرد
***
Description:
English Translation:
I turned my face towards his path, but he did not pass by me,
I had a hundred kind looks in my eyes, but he gave me not one glance.
The flood of our tears could not wash away the malice from his heart,
Like raindrops on a hard stone, my tears left no trace.
O Lord, protect that brave young man,
Who did not fear the arrow of the hermit's sigh.
Last night, neither fish nor bird slept from my wailing,
And yet that playful-eyed one did not lift his head from sleep.
I wanted to melt like a candle at his feet,
But he passed by us like the morning breeze.
My dear, what heartless and incompetent person is this,
Who did not shield his life from the wound of your sharp sword?
Hafez's tongue-tied pen in the gathering,
Did not tell anyone your secret until it was broken.
Explanation of the Ghazal
In this ghazal, Hafez expresses deep sorrow and longing for a beloved who seems indifferent to his affections.
Key Themes:
Unrequited Love: The poet's love is unrequited, and his beloved shows no sign of reciprocation.
Heartbreak and Despair: The imagery of tears, wailing, and a broken pen conveys the depth of the poet's emotional pain.
The Power of the Beloved: The beloved is depicted as having immense power over the lover's heart and soul.
Key Persian terms and nuances:
رَه: Path, way
آه: Sigh, a deep, sorrowful breath
کِلک: Pen
This ghazal is a beautiful example of Hafez's poetic mastery, combining deep emotional expression with rich imagery. The poet's use of metaphors and similes creates a vivid and evocative picture of the human experience.