It’s the night of union, and the page of separation has turned, Ghazal 251 by Hafez
It’s the night of union, and the page of separation has turned, Ghazal 251 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
شبِ وصل است و طی شد نامهٔ هَجر
«سلامٌ فیهِ حَتّی مَطْلَعِ الفَجْر»
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دلا در عاشقی ثابت‌قدم باش
که در این رَه نباشد کار بی‌اجر
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من از رندی نخواهم کرد توبه
و لو آذَیتَنی بِالهَجرِ و الحَجر
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برآی ای صبحِ روشن‌دل خدا را
که بس تاریک می‌بینم شبِ هَجر
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دلم رفت و ندیدم رویِ دل‌دار
فَغان از این تَطاول، آه از این زَجر
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وفا خواهی، جفاکَش باش حافظ
فَاِنَّ الرِبْحَ و الْخُسرانَ فِی التَّجْر
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Description:
English Translation:
It’s the night of union, and the page of separation has turned,
“Peace be upon it until the break of dawn.”
O heart, be steadfast in love,
For in this path, there is no work without reward.
I will not repent of my recklessness,
Even if you torment me with separation and stone.
Arise, O morning of bright heart, for God’s sake,
For I see the night of separation as too dark.
My heart went away and I did not see my beloved’s face,
Alas for this violence, alas for this torment.
If you desire loyalty, endure injustice, O Hafez,
For indeed, profit and loss are in commerce.
Explanation of the Ghazal
In this ghazal, Hafez expresses the joys and sorrows of love, the pain of separation, and the hope for reunion. He uses vivid imagery and symbolism to convey his intense emotions.
Key Themes:
Love and longing: The poet expresses a deep longing for his beloved and the joy of their union.
Patience and perseverance: The poet emphasizes the importance of patience and perseverance in love.
Spiritual journey: The poet uses the imagery of a journey to describe the spiritual path of love.
Key Persian terms and nuances:
شبِ وصل: Night of union
هَجر: Separation
سلامٌ فیهِ حَتّی مَطْلَعِ الفَجْر: Peace be upon it until the break of dawn (a Quranic phrase)
رندی: Recklessness, wildness (often associated with a carefree and spiritual attitude)
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.
Cultural references: Many of Hafez's poems, including this one, contain allusions to Persian history, literature, and mythology.