O you who show no mercy in our killing, Ghazal 480 by Hafez

By hamed @hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi | 21 1

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Description:

In this ghazāl, Hafez addresses a beloved, expressing a deep sense of longing, pain, and frustration. He criticizes those who are unkind and unsympathetic, and he expresses his desire for his beloved's attention and compassion.

Key Themes:

Love and longing: The poet expresses a deep longing for his beloved and the pain of separation.
Criticism of hypocrisy: Hafez criticizes the hypocrisy of those who claim to be pious but lack compassion.
The power of love: The poet emphasizes the transformative power of love and its ability to heal.


English Translation for Ghazal

O you who show no mercy in our killing
You burn both profit and capital and have no compassion


The sick of affliction have the poison of hemlock
Beware lest the intention of these people be wrong

Who can bear our pain with a glance?
It is not fair play that you do not heal us

Our eyes are like a sea with hope for you, why
Don’t you pass by the seashore for a stroll?

Whatever evil they say about your generosity
Is the word of the prejudiced, don’t believe them

If our beloved appears to you, O ascetic
Ask God for nothing but wine and a lover

Hafez, prostrate yourself to an eyebrow like a prayer niche
And offer no other prayer sincerely

متن غزل

ای که در کشتن ما هیچ مدارا نکنی

سود و سرمایه بسوزی و محابا نکنی

 

دردمندان بلا زهر هلاهل دارند

قصد این قوم خطا باشد هان تا نکنی

 

رنج ما را که توان برد به یک گوشه چشم

شرط انصاف نباشد که مداوا نکنی

 

دیده ما چو به امید تو دریاست چرا

به تفرج گذری بر لب دریا نکنی

 

نقل هر جور که از خلق کریمت کردند

قول صاحب غرضان است تو آن‌ها نکنی

 

بر تو گر جلوه کند شاهد ما ای زاهد

از خدا جز می و معشوق تمنا نکنی

 

حافظا سجده به ابروی چو محرابش بر

که دعایی ز سر صدق جز آن جا نکنی


hamed
@hamed Oct. 12, 2024, 8:59 p.m.

Key Persian terms and nuances:

هلاهل: hemlock, a highly poisonous plant
محراب: prayer niche

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.