Last night, a wise and cunning confidant told me, Ghazal 286 by Hafez
Last night, a wise and cunning confidant told me, Ghazal 286 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
دوش با من گفت پنهان کاردانی تیزهوش
وز شما پنهان نشاید کرد سِرِّ مِی‌فروش
***
گفت آسان گیر بر خود کارها کز رویِ طبع
سخت می‌گردد جهان بر مردمانِ سخت‌کوش
***
وان گَهَم دَر داد جامی کز فروغش بر فلک
زهره در رقص آمد و بَرْبَط زنان می‌گفت نوش
***
با دلِ خونین لبِ خندان بیاور همچو جام
نی گَرَت زخمی رسد، آیی چو چنگ اندر خروش
***
تا نگردی آشْنا زین پرده رَمزی نشنوی
گوشِ نامحرم نباشد جایِ پیغامِ سروش
***
گوش کن پند ای پسر وز بهرِ دنیا غم مَخور
گفتمت چون دُر حدیثی، گر توانی داشت هوش
***
در حریمِ عشق نَتْوان زد دَم از گفت و شنید
زان که آنجا جمله اعضا چشم باید بود و گوش
***
بر بساطِ نکته‌دانان خودفروشی شرط نیست
یا سخن دانسته گو ای مردِ عاقل، یا خموش
***
ساقیا مِی ده که رندی‌هایِ حافظ فهم کرد
آصِفِ صاحب‌قرانِ جرم‌بخشِ عیب‌پوش
***
Description:
English Translation:
Last night, a wise and cunning confidant told me,
"You cannot hide the secret of the wine seller from me."
He said, "Take things easy, for the world becomes difficult
For those who work hard."
And then he handed me a cup, whose radiance caused Venus
To dance in the sky and play the lute, singing, "Drink!"
With a bleeding heart, bring a smiling face like a cup,
Or if you are wounded, roar like a lute.
Until you become familiar with this curtain, do not hear this secret,
The ears of the uninitiated are not a place for the message of the divine messenger.
Listen, my son, and don't worry about the world,
I've told you a pearl of wisdom, if you can understand.
In the realm of love, you cannot speak or listen,
For there, all limbs must be eyes and ears.
Self-promotion is not necessary at the gathering of the wise,
Either speak wisely, O wise man, or be silent.
O wine server, bring wine, for Hafez has understood the ways of the worldly,
The assistant of the victorious king, the forgiver of sins.
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 worldly ambitions 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.
The impermanence of worldly pursuits: The poet warns against the futility of excessive striving and worldly ambitions.
The importance of silence and understanding: The poet emphasizes the value of silence and intuitive understanding in matters of love and spirituality.
The role of the king: The poet praises the new king and seeks divine blessings for him.
Key Persian terms and nuances:
تیزهوش: Sharp-witted
مِی‌فروش: Wine seller
زهره: Venus
بَرْبَط: Lute
آشْنا: Familiar
سروش: Divine messenger
نَتْوان زد دَم: One cannot utter a word
آصِف: Assistant
صاحب‌قران: Victorious
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.