I would trade eternal life for a moment of union with Her, Ghazal 419 by Hafez

I would trade eternal life for a moment of union with Her, Ghazal 419 by Hafez

By @hamed on October 11, 2024

I would trade eternal life for a moment of union with Her, Ghazal 419 by Hafez

By hamed @hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi

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Description:

In this ghazāl, Hafez expresses a deep and passionate love for his beloved, placing their union above all else, including life itself. He also uses vivid imagery and metaphors to describe his emotions and desires.

Key Themes:

Divine love: The poet equates his love for his beloved with a spiritual connection to the divine.
Sacrifice and suffering: He is willing to endure any pain or suffering to be with his beloved.
Beauty and longing: The poet describes his beloved's beauty in hyperbolic terms, and expresses an intense longing for them.


English Translation for Ghazal

I would trade eternal life for a moment of union with Her
Oh God, grant me that which is better


She struck me with her sword, and I told no one
For the secret of a friend is hidden from the enemy


To die as a slave at this door
Is better than all the kingdoms of the world

For God's sake, ask my physician
When will this weak one finally be healed?

A flower that was trampled under our cypress
Its soil was redder than pomegranate blood

Do not invite me to your garden, O ascetic
For this forbidden fruit is better than that garden

Heart, always be a beggar at her door
According to the decree that eternal wealth is there

Young one, do not turn your head away from the old one's advice
For the old one's judgment is better than the young one's luck


One night she said, no one has ever seen
A pearl like the one in my ear in the world

Although the River of Life is alive
But our Shiraz is better than Isfahan

Words in the mouth of a friend are sweet
But the words of Hafez are even sweeter

Ghazal in Persian

وصال او ز عمر جاودان به

خداوندا مرا آن ده که آن به

 

به شمشیرم زد و با کس نگفتم

که راز دوست از دشمن نهان به

 

به داغ بندگی مردن بر این در

به جان او که از ملک جهان به

 

خدا را از طبیب من بپرسید

که آخر کی شود این ناتوان به

 

گلی کان پایمال سرو ما گشت

بود خاکش ز خون ارغوان به

 

به خلدم دعوت ای زاهد مفرما

که این سیب زنخ زان بوستان به

 

دلا دایم گدای کوی او باش

به حکم آن که دولت جاودان به

 

جوانا سر متاب از پند پیران

که رای پیر از بخت جوان به

 

شبی می‌گفت چشم کس ندیده‌ست

ز مروارید گوشم در جهان به

 

اگر چه زنده رود آب حیات است

ولی شیراز ما از اصفهان به

 

سخن اندر دهان دوست شِکَّر

ولیکن گفته حافظ از آن به


hamed
@hamed Oct. 11, 2024, 12:34 p.m.

Key Persian terms and nuances:

وصال: union, reunion
داغ بندگی: the mark of servitude
خلد: paradise, eternity

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.