Now that a cup of clear wine is in the hand of the flower: Ghazal 44 by Hafez
Now that a cup of clear wine is in the hand of the flower: Ghazal 44 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
کُنون که بر کفِ گُل جامِ بادهٔ صاف است
به صدهزار زبان بلبلش در اوصاف است
***
بخواه دفترِ اشعار و راهِ صحرا گیر
چه وقتِ مدرسه و بحثِ کشفِ کَشّاف است؟
***
فقیهِ مدرسه دی مست بود و فَتوی داد
که مِی حرام ولی بِه ز مالِ اوقاف است
***
به دُرد و صاف تو را حُکم نیست خوش دَرکَش
که هر چه ساقیِ ما کرد عینِ اَلطاف است
***
بِبُر ز خَلق و چو عَنقا قیاسِ کار بگیر
که صیتِ گوشه‌نشینان ز قاف تا قاف است
***
حدیثِ مُدّعیان و خیالِ همکاران
همان حکایتِ زَردوز و بوریاباف است
***
خموش حافظ و این نکته‌های چون زر سرخ
نگاه‌دار که قَلّابِ شهر، صرّاف است
***
Description:
English Translation:
Now that a cup of clear wine is in the hand of the flower,
The nightingale is describing it in a hundred thousand tongues.
Seek your book of poems and take the path of the wilderness,
For what time is it for school and the discussion of revealing commentaries?
The schoolman was drunk yesterday and gave a verdict,
That wine is forbidden but better than the property of endowments.
Don't find fault with your pain and your clarity, drink it up,
For whatever our cupbearer does is pure kindness.
Cut yourself off from people and like the Simorgh, take the measure of your actions,
For the reputation of hermits extends from the letter Qaf to Qaf.
The talk of the claimants and the imagination of the associates
Is the same story as the embroiderer and the sackcloth weaver.
Be silent, Hafez, and guard these golden points,
For the city’s cheat is a goldsmith.
Explanation of the Ghazal
In this ghazal, Hafez invites the reader to embrace a life of spiritual seeking and pleasure. He criticizes the hypocrisy of religious scholars and celebrates the freedom of the soul.
Key Themes:
Wine as a Metaphor: Wine is often used as a metaphor for divine love or spiritual ecstasy.
Spiritual Seeking: The poet encourages the reader to seek spiritual enlightenment and to break free from the constraints of worldly life.
Criticism of Religious Authority: Hafez subtly criticizes the hypocrisy of religious scholars who condemn pleasure.
The Hermit's Life: The poet praises the solitary life of a hermit, free from the distractions of worldly affairs.
Key Persian terms and their nuances:
عنقا: A mythical bird, often symbolizing spiritual perfection
قاف: A legendary mountain believed to be at the edge of the world
زردوز: An embroiderer, often symbolizing superficiality
بوریاباف: A sackcloth weaver, often symbolizing humility
This ghazal is a beautiful example of Hafez's poetic mastery, combining deep philosophical thoughts with a celebration of life's pleasures. The poet's use of metaphors and similes creates a rich tapestry of meaning.