Last night, a nightingale from a cypress branch, Ghazal 486 by Hafez

Last night, a nightingale from a cypress branch, Ghazal 486 by Hafez

By @hamed on October 12, 2024

Last night, a nightingale from a cypress branch, Ghazal 486 by Hafez

By hamed @hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi

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Description:

In this ghazāl, Hafez delves into themes of spirituality, worldly attachments, and the complexities of love. He uses rich imagery and allusions to convey his profound thoughts.

Key Themes:

Spiritual enlightenment: Hafez refers to the spiritual journey and the quest for divine knowledge.
Worldly attachments: He warns against the dangers of being overly attached to worldly possessions and pleasures.
The complexities of love: The poet explores the paradoxical nature of love, both its joy and its pain.


English Translation for Ghazal

Last night, a nightingale from a cypress branch
Sang the lessons of spiritual stations with a melodious voice


Meaning, come so that the fire of Moses may bloom
And you may hear the secret of unity from the tree

The birds of the garden are rhyming and joking
Until the master drinks wine, to the tune of Persian poetry

Jamshid took nothing from the world but the tale of the cup
Beware! Don't attach your heart to worldly things

Hear this strange story: by a twist of fate
Our beloved killed us with the breath of Jesus

Good is the time of sackcloth, begging, and peaceful sleep
For this pleasure is not worthy of Khusrow's throne

Your glance, with a flirtatious wink, ruined people's homes
May you never be drunk, for you wander happily drunk

The old farmer said so well to his son
O light of my eye! Seek nothing but your field

O cupbearer, has Hafez's duty exceeded?
For he has disheveled the turban of Molavi(Rumi)

Ghazal in Persian

بلبل، ز شاخِ سرو، به گلبانگِ پهلوی

می‌خوانْد دوش، درسِ مقاماتِ معنوی

 

یعنی بیا، که آتشِ موسی، نمودْ گُل

تا از درخت، نکته‌ی توحید بشنوی

 

مرغان باغ، قافیه‌سنجند و بذله‌گوی

تا خواجه مِی خورَد، به غزل‌های پهلوی

 

جمشید، جز حکایتِ جام، از جهان نَبُرد

زنهار! دل مَبَند، بر اسبابِ دنیوی

 

این قصّه‌ی عجب شِنو: از بختِ واژگون

ما را بِکُشت یار، به انفاسِ عیسَوی

 

خوش، وقتِ بوریا و گدایی و خوابِ امن

کاین عیش، نیست درخورِ اُورَنگِ خسروی

 

چَشمت، به غَمزه، خانه‌ی مردم، خراب کرد

مَخموریـَت مَباد، که خوش مَست می‌رَوی

 

دهقان سال‌خورده، چه خوش گفت با پسر

کای نورِ چشمِ من! به‌جز از کِشته، نَدرَوی

 

ساقی، مگر وظیفه‌ی حافظ، زیاده داد

کآشفته گَشت، طُرّه‌ی دَستارِ مولوی


hamed
@hamed Oct. 12, 2024, 9:17 p.m.

Key Persian terms and nuances:

آتش موسی: the fire of Moses, a reference to the burning bush that spoke to Moses
جام: cup, often used as a symbol of spiritual knowledge
جمشید: a legendary Persian king, often associated with a golden age
عیسوی: referring to Jesus, and possibly alluding to the breath of life

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.