No one has ever seen your face, yet you have a thousand rivals: Ghazal 63 by Hafez

By hamed @hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi | 5 4

رویِ تو کس ندید و هزارت رقیب هست؛

در غنچه‌ای هنوز و صَدَت عَنْدَلیب هست.

***

گَر آمدم به کویِ تو، چَندان غریب نیست؛

چون من، در آن دیار، هزاران غریب هست.

***

در عشق، خانقاه و خرابات —فرق نیست

هر جا که هست— پرتوِ رویِ حبیب هست

***

آن جا که کارِ صومعه را جلوه می‌دهند،

ناقوسِ دِیرِ راهب و نامِ صلیب هست

***

عاشق که شد، که یار به حالَش نظر نکرد؟

ای خواجه درد نیست؛ وگرنه طبیب هست

***

فریادِ حافظ —این همه آخِر— به هَرزه نیست؛

هم قصّه‌ای غریب و حدیثی عجیب هست

***


Description:

English Translation:

No one has ever seen your face, yet you have a thousand rivals;
You're still in bud, yet a hundred nightingales sing your praises.

If I come to your street, it's not so strange;
For like me, there are thousands of strangers in that land.

In love, a monastery and a tavern are no different;
Wherever there is love, there is a glimpse of the beloved.

Where they make a show of monastic work,
There's the monk's bell and the name of the cross.

Has any lover ever called out without their beloved noticing?
O master, it's not a sickness; if it were, there would be a physician.

Hafez's cry—all this wailing—is not in vain;
There is a strange tale and a wondrous story here.


English Translation for Ghazal

English translation for Ghazal.

متن غزل

Original poem in Persian

hamed
@hamed Aug. 4, 2024, 1:27 p.m.

Explanation of the Ghazal

In this ghazal, Hafez explores themes of love, longing, and the divine. He uses vivid imagery and paradoxical statements to convey the complexities of human experience.

hamed
@hamed Aug. 4, 2024, 1:27 p.m.

Key Themes:

Divine Love: The beloved is often seen as a symbol of the divine, and the poet's love for them is spiritual.
Paradox and Irony: Hafez often uses paradoxical statements to convey deeper meanings, challenging conventional wisdom.
The Unity of All Religions: The poet suggests that all paths to the divine are ultimately the same, regardless of religious differences.
The Pain of Love: Hafez expresses the universal pain of love and longing.

hamed
@hamed Aug. 4, 2024, 1:27 p.m.

Key Persian terms and their nuances:

رقیب: Rival
غنچه: Bud
عندلیب: Nightingale
خانقاه: Monastery
خرابات: Tavern
صومعه: Monastery
ناقوس: Bell

hamed
@hamed Aug. 4, 2024, 1:28 p.m.

This ghazal is a beautiful example of Hafez's poetic mastery, combining deep philosophical thoughts with a celebration of love. The poet's use of metaphors and similes creates a rich tapestry of meaning.