If fate lends a hand, I will grasp its skirt, Ghazal 296 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
|
6
4
طالع اگر مدد دهد، دامَنَش آوَرَم به کف
گر بِکَشَم زهی طَرَب، ور بِکُشَد زهی شرف
***
طَرْفِ کَرَم ز کَس نَبَست، این دلِ پُر امیدِ من
گر چه سخن همی بَرَد، قصهٔ من به هر طرف
***
از خَمِ ابرویِ توام، هیچ گشایشی نشد
وَه که در این خیالِ کَج، عمرِ عزیز شد تلف
***
اَبرویِ دوست کِی شود، دَستکَشِ خیالِ من؟
کس نزده‌ست از این کمان، تیرِ مراد بر هدف
***
چند به ناز پَروَرَم، مِهرِ بُتانِ سنگ‌دل
یادِ پدر نمی‌کنند، این پسرانِ ناخَلَف
***
من به خیالِ زاهدی، گوشه‌نشین و طُرفه آن‌ک
مُغْبَچه‌ای ز هر طرف، می‌زندم به چنگ و دَف
***
بی‌خبرند زاهدان، نقش بخوان و لاتَقُل
مستِ ریاست محتسب، باده بده و لاتَخَف
***
صوفی شهر بین که چون، لقمهٔ شُبهه می‌خورد
پاردُمَش دراز باد، آن حَیَوانِ خوش علف
***
حافظ اگر قدم زنی، در رَهِ خاندان به صِدق
بدرقهٔ رَهَت شود، همَّتِ شَحنِهٔ نجف
***
Description:
English Translation:
If fate lends a hand, I will grasp its skirt
Whether it brings me joy or death, what glory!
My hopeful heart has not tied itself to anyone's kindness
Though my story is told everywhere.
From the bend of your eyebrow, I've found no relief
Alas, in this crooked thought, my precious life has been wasted.
When will my beloved's eyebrow become the target of my imagination?
No one has hit the target with an arrow from this bow.
How long will I nurture the love of these heartless idols?
These ungrateful sons do not remember their father.
I, in the guise of a pious man, sit in a corner, strangely enough
Playing the tambourine from every side.
The pious are unaware, read the inscription and don't say a word
The drunkard magistrate, give me wine and don't be afraid.
See the city's Sufi, how he eats a morsel of doubt
May his tail be long, that well-fed animal.
Hafez, if you step sincerely on the path of the family
The governor of Najaf will accompany you on your journey.
English Translation for Ghazal
متن غزل
Explanation of the Ghazal
This ghazal by Hafez is a complex and multifaceted poem that delves into themes of love, fate, hypocrisy, and spiritual seeking. The poet expresses his frustration with his love, the hypocrisy of religious figures, and his hope for divine intervention.
Key Themes:
Love and longing: The poet expresses his deep love for a beloved and the pain of unrequited love.
Fate and destiny: The poet questions the role of fate in his life and seeks divine intervention.
Hypocrisy and spirituality: The poet criticizes the hypocrisy of religious figures and questions the nature of true spirituality.
Social commentary: The poet offers social commentary on the state of society and the behavior of its people.
Key Persian terms and nuances:
طالع: Fate, destiny
کرم: Kindness, benevolence
ابرو: Eyebrow, often used metaphorically to represent beauty or power
مغبچه: Tambourine
صوفی: Sufi, a Muslim mystic
محتسب: Magistrate, responsible for enforcing moral and religious laws
شحنّه: Governor
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.
Social and political commentary: The poem contains subtle references to contemporary social and political issues.