If that celestial bird returns through my door, Ghazal 236 by Hafez
If that celestial bird returns through my door, Ghazal 236 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
اگر آن طایرِ قدسی ز دَرَم بازآید
عمرِ بگذشته به پیرانه سرم بازآید
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دارم امّید بر این اشکِ چو باران که دگر
برقِ دولت که بِرَفت از نظرم بازآید
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آن که تاجِ سرِ من خاکِ کفِ پایش بود
از خدا می‌طلبم تا به سرم بازآید
***
خواهم اندر عقبش رفت به یاران عزیز
شخصم ار بازنیاید خبرم بازآید
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گر نثارِ قدمِ یارِ گرامی نکنم
گوهرِ جان به چه کار دگرم بازآید؟
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کوسِ نو دولتی از بامِ سعادت بزنم
گر ببینم که مَهِ نوسفرم بازآید
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مانِعَش غلغلِ چنگ است و شکرخوابِ صَبوح
ور نه گر بشنود آهِ سحرم بازآید
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آرزومندِ رخِ شاهِ چو ماهم حافظ
همتی تا به سلامت ز درم بازآید
***
Description:
English Translation:
If that celestial bird returns through my door,
The years that have passed will return to my aged head.
I have hope in these tears like rain, that once more
The flash of fortune that left my sight will return.
The one whose crown of my head was the dust of his feet,
I pray to God that she may return to my head.
I wish to follow her, I promise this to the friends,
Let news of me return, even if my person does not return.
If I do not offer the jewel of my life for my beloved’s step,
What else will my life be good for?
I will beat a new drum of fortune from the roof of prosperity
If I see that the moon of my journey returns.
It is the clamor of the lute and the sweet sleep of the morning wine
That prevent it, otherwise if she hears my morning sigh, she will return.
Longing for the face of the queen like the moon, Hafez,
May she return to my door in good health.
Explanation of the Ghazal
In this ghazal, Hafez expresses a deep longing for a beloved, possibly a spiritual guide or a lover. He uses vivid imagery and symbolism to convey his intense feelings of devotion and hope.
Key Themes:
Longing for a Beloved: The poet expresses a deep longing for a beloved, who is often associated with divine love.
Hope and Despair: The poet alternates between hope and despair, reflecting the ups and downs of longing.
The Power of Divine Intervention: The poet seeks divine intervention to fulfill his desire.
Key Persian terms and nuances:
طایر قدسی: Celestial bird (often a symbol of the soul or a spiritual guide)
برق دولت: Flash of fortune
کف پا: Sole of the foot
کوس: Drum
صبوح: Morning wine
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 undertones: Many of Hafez's poems, including this one, contain Sufi undertones and references to mystical experiences.