If you’re a true, loyal friend, be steadfast in your covenant, Ghazal 273 by Hafez
If you’re a true, loyal friend, be steadfast in your covenant, Ghazal 273 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
اگر رفیقِ شفیقی، درست پیمان باش
حریفِ خانه و گرمابه و گلستان باش
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شِکَنجِ زلفِ پریشان به دستِ باد مده
مگو که خاطرِ عُشّاق، گو پریشان باش
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گَرَت هواست که با خِضْر هم‌نشین باشی
نهان ز چشمِ سِکَندَر چو آبِ حیوان باش
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زبورِ عشق نوازی نه کارِ هر مرغی است
بیا و نوگُلِ این بلبلِ غزل‌خوان باش
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طریقِ خدمت و آیینِ بندگی کردن
خدای را که رها کن، به ما و سلطان باش
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دگر به صیدِ حرم تیغ برمکش، زنهار
وز آن که با دلِ ما کرده‌ای پشیمان باش
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تو شمعِ انجمنی، یک‌زبان و یک‌دل شو
خیال و کوشش پروانه بین و خندان باش
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کمالِ دل‌بری و حُسن در نظربازی است
به شیوهٔ نظر، از نادرانِ دوران باش
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خموش حافظ و از جورِ یار ناله مکن
تو را که گفت که در رویِ خوب، حیران باش؟
***
Description:
English Translation:
If you’re a true, loyal friend, be steadfast in your covenant,
Be a companion for the house, the bath, and the garden.
Don’t let the wind tangle your beloved's disheveled locks,
Don’t say that the hearts of lovers are always troubled.
If you desire to be a companion of Khizr,
Be hidden from Alexander's eyes like the water of life.
The psalm of love's melody is not for every bird,
Come and be the new rose of this nightingale of poetry.
Forget about the path of service and the ritual of worship,
For God's sake, be free and be with us and the sultan.
Don't draw your sword for the hunt in the sanctuary, beware,
And regret what you've done to our hearts.
You are the candle of the gathering, be unified in word and heart,
See the moth's desire and longing and smile.
The perfection of seduction and beauty lies in the play of glances,
Be one of the unique ones of the age in your style of looking.
Be silent, Hafez, and do not lament the cruelty of your beloved,
Who told you to be bewildered by a beautiful face?
Explanation of the Ghazal
In this ghazal, Hafez explores themes of love, friendship, and spiritual longing. He uses vivid imagery and symbolism to convey his intense emotions.
Key Themes:
Love and friendship: The poet expresses his desire for a deep and lasting friendship.
Spiritual journey: The poet uses imagery of the garden, the wine, and the mystic to symbolize the spiritual journey and the search for meaning.
The transience of life: The poet reflects on the impermanence of worldly pleasures and the eternal nature of the soul.
Key Persian terms and nuances:
رفیق: Companion
عُشّاق: Lovers
خِضْر: Khizr (a mythical figure associated with immortality and spiritual knowledge)
سِکَندَر: Alexander (Alexander the Great)
نوگُل: New rose
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.