In the reign of the king who pardons offenses, Ghazal 285 by Hafez
In the reign of the king who pardons offenses, Ghazal 285 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
در عهدِ پادشاهِ خطابخشِ جُرم پوش
حافظ قَرابه کَش شد و مفتی پیاله نوش
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صوفی ز کُنجِ صومعه با پایِ خُم نشست
تا دید محتسب که سَبو می‌کشد به دوش
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احوالِ شیخ و قاضی و شُربُ الیَهودِشان
کردم سؤال صبحدم از پیرِ مِی فروش
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گفتا نه گفتنیست سخن گرچه محرمی
دَرکَش زبان و پرده نگه دار و مِی بنوش
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ساقی بهار می‌رسد و وجهِ مِی نماند
فکری بکن که خونِ دل آمد ز غم به جوش
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عشق است و مفلسیّ و جوانیّ و نوبهار
عُذرم پذیر و جرم به ذیلِ کرم بپوش
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تا چند همچو شمع زبان آوری کنی؟
پروانهٔ مراد رسید ای مُحِب خموش
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ای پادشاهِ صورت و معنی که مثل تو
نادیده هیچ دیده و نشنیده هیچ گوش
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چندان بمان که خرقهٔ اَزْرَق کُنَد قبول
بختِ جوانَت از فلکِ پیرِ ژِنده پوش
***
Description:
English Translation:
In the reign of the king who pardons offenses,
Hafez became a wine server and the mufti a wine drinker.
The Sufi left the corner of his monastery with a wine jug,
Until the censor saw him carrying a wine flask.
I asked the old wine seller at dawn about the state
of the sheikh, the judge, and their drinking of forbidden wine,
He said, "Though you are a confidant, it’s not something to be spoken of,
Understand with your heart and keep your eyes veiled, and drink wine."
The wine seller said, "Spring is coming, and the price of wine will not remain the same,
Think about it, for the blood of my heart has boiled from grief."
It is love, poverty, youth, and spring,
Forgive my excuse, and cover my crime with your grace.
How long will you, like a candle, keep speaking?
The moth of your desire has arrived, O silent lover.
O king of form and essence, like you,
No eye has seen, no ear has heard.
May you live long enough to accept the blue robe,
And may your youthful fortune be renewed by the aged sky.
Explanation of the Ghazal
This ghazal by Hafez is a celebration of love, wine, and the carefree life. It also contains a subtle critique of religious hypocrisy and a praise for the benevolent king.
Key Themes:
Celebration of love and wine: The poet extols the pleasures of love and wine, suggesting that they can lead to spiritual enlightenment.
Social commentary: Hafez subtly criticizes religious hypocrisy and the double standards of those in power.
The role of the king: The poet praises the new king and seeks divine blessings for him.
The power of love: The poet explores the transformative power of love and its ability to consume a person.
Key Persian terms and nuances:
خطابخش: Forgiving, merciful
قرابه: Wine jug
مفتی: Islamic jurist
صومعه: Monastery
محتسب: The censor, a religious police officer
شُربُ الیَهود: Wine, which was considered forbidden in some Islamic interpretations
ساقی: Wine server
عذرم پذیر: Forgive my excuse
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.
Historical and political references: The ghazal may contain allusions to specific historical events or political figures.