My heart she stole, and hid her face from me, Ghazal 137 by Hafez

By hamed @hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi | 3 4

دل از من بُرد و روی از من نهان کرد

خدا را با که این بازی توان کرد

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شب تنهاییَم در قصدِ جان بود

خیالش لطف‌هایِ بی‌کران کرد

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چرا چون لاله خونین دل نباشم؟

که با ما نرگسِ او سر گران کرد

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که را گویم که با این دردِ جان‌سوز؟

طبیبم قصدِ جانِ ناتوان کرد

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بدان سان سوخت چون شمعم که بر من

صُراحی گریه و بَربَط فغان کرد

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صبا گر چاره داری وقت، وقت است

که دردِ اشتیاقم قصدِ جان کرد

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میان مهربانان کی توان گفت؟

که یارِ ما چُنین گفت و چُنان کرد

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عدو با جانِ حافظ آن نکردی

که تیرِ چشمِ آن ابروکمان کرد

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Description:

English Translation:

My heart she stole, and hid her face from me,
Oh God, with whom can one play such a game?

My lonely nights were intent on killing me,
But his thought showered me with boundless kindness.

Why should I not be as blood-red as a tulip?
For his narcissus has held his head high towards us.

To whom shall I say, with this heart-burning pain?
My physician has aimed at my weak life.

I burned like a candle in such a way that upon me,
A jug wept and a lute wailed.

O gentle breeze, if you have a remedy, now is the time,
For the pain of my longing is intent on killing me.

Amongst kind people, how can one say?
That our beloved spoke thus and acted so.

An enemy did not do to Hafez's life what
The arrow of that eyebrow-bow has done.


English Translation for Ghazal

English translation for Ghazal.

متن غزل

Original poem in Persian

hamed
@hamed Aug. 22, 2024, 2:37 a.m.

Explanation of the Ghazal

In this ghazal, Hafez expresses the deep pain of unrequited love and the longing for his beloved.

hamed
@hamed Aug. 22, 2024, 2:38 a.m.

Key Themes:

Unrequited Love: The poet expresses the pain of unrequited love and the longing for his beloved's attention.
The Power of the Beloved: The beloved is depicted as having immense power over the lover's heart and soul.
The Pain of Separation: The poet describes the physical and emotional pain caused by separation from his beloved.

hamed
@hamed Aug. 22, 2024, 2:38 a.m.

Key Persian terms and nuances:

نرگس: Narcissus, often used as a symbol of beauty and pride
صراحی: A jug or flask, often used to hold wine
بربط: A type of lute, a stringed instrument

hamed
@hamed Aug. 22, 2024, 2:39 a.m.

This ghazal is a beautiful example of Hafez's poetic mastery, combining deep emotional expression with rich imagery. The poet's use of metaphors and similes creates a vivid and evocative picture of the human experience.