O gentle breeze, if you happen to pass through the beloved's land: Ghazal 61 by Hafez
O gentle breeze, if you happen to pass through the beloved's land: Ghazal 61 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
صبا اگر گذری اُفتَدَت به کشور دوست
بیار نَفحِه‌ای از گیسوی مُعَنبَر دوست
***
به جانِ او که به شکرانه جان برافشانم
اگر به سویِ من آری پیامی از برِ دوست
***
و گر چنان که در آن حضرتت نباشد بار
برایِ دیده بیاور غباری از درِ دوست
***
منِ گدا و تمنایِ وصلِ او هیهات
مگر به خواب ببینم خیالِ منظرِ دوست
***
دل صِنوبَریَم همچو بید لرزان است
ز حسرتِ قد و بالای چون صنوبرِ دوست
***
اگر چه دوست به چیزی نمی‌خرد ما را
به عالمی نفروشیم مویی از سرِ دوست
***
چه باشد ار شود از بندِ غم دلش آزاد
چو هست حافظِ مسکین غلام و چاکر دوست
***
Description:
English Translation:
O gentle breeze, if you happen to pass through the beloved's land,
Bring a fragrant breath from the beloved's amber tresses.
I would gladly sacrifice my life in gratitude
If you bring a message from my beloved to me.
And if, by chance, you carry no message from that exalted one,
Then bring a speck of dust from the beloved's door for my eyes.
I, a beggar, longing for union with the beloved—alas,
I can only see the beloved's form in my dreams.
My heart, like a cypress, trembles like a willow
With longing for the beloved's cypress-like stature.
Even though the beloved does not value us,
I would not sell a hair from the beloved's head for the whole world.
What does it matter if the beloved's heart is free from the bonds of sorrow?
For as long as Hafez, the lowly one, is the beloved's slave and servant.
Explanation of the Ghazal
In this ghazal, Hafez expresses a deep and passionate love for his beloved, using vivid imagery and poetic devices to convey the intensity of his emotions.
Key Themes:
Divine Love: The poet's love for the beloved is seen as a divine connection.
Longing and Separation: The poet expresses a deep longing for his beloved and the pain of separation.
Submission to the Beloved: The poet expresses complete submission to the will of his beloved.
The Beloved's Beauty: The beloved is described using natural imagery, emphasizing their beauty and allure.
Key Persian terms and their nuances:
صبا: Gentle breeze
معنبر: Amber
صنوبر: Cypress
بید: Willow
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 his longing for his beloved.