O you whose worth is the blood price of a Chinese musk deer, the dust of your path, Ghazal 409 by Hafez

O you whose worth is the blood price of a Chinese musk deer, the dust of your path, Ghazal 409 by Hafez

By @hamed on October 10, 2024

O you whose worth is the blood price of a Chinese musk deer, the dust of your path, Ghazal 409 by Hafez

By hamed @hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi

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Description:

In this ghazāl, Hafez expresses deep admiration and devotion to his beloved. The poet elevates the beloved to a divine status, comparing her to celestial bodies and natural phenomena.

Key Themes:

Divine love: The beloved is portrayed as a deity, and the poet expresses a profound spiritual connection to her.
Beauty and perfection: The beloved's beauty is described in hyperbolic terms, emphasizing her perfection.
Longing and separation: The poet expresses a deep longing for his beloved and the pain of separation.


English Translation for Ghazal

O you whose worth is the blood price of a Chinese musk deer, the dust of your path
The sun, a shade-giver, is on the side of your hat


The narcissus coquettishly strides beyond measure
O me, sacrificed to the ways of your black eyes

Drink my blood, for no king with such beauty
Would have his heart write your sin

You are the cause of the world’s peace and sleep
Therefore, the eye and the heart have taken refuge in you

Every night I deal with every star
From the longing for the radiance of your face like the moon

Companions have all separated from one another
We remain, and the threshold of your fortunate shelter

Hafiz, don’t be greedy for favor, for in the end
Fire will set your sorrow’s haystack ablaze with your sigh

Ghazal in Persian

ای خونبهای نافه چین خاک راه تو

خورشید سایه‌پرور طرف کلاه تو

 

نرگس کرشمه می‌برد از حد برون خرام

ای من فدای شیوه چشم سیاه تو

 

خونم بخور که هیچ ملک با چنان جمال

از دل نیایدش که نویسد گناه تو

 

آرام و خواب خلق جهان را سبب تویی

زان شد کنار دیده و دل تکیه‌گاه تو

 

با هر ستاره‌ای سر و کار است هر شبم

از حسرت فروغ رخ همچو ماه تو

 

یاران همنشین همه از هم جدا شدند

ماییم و آستانه دولت پناه تو

 

حافظ طمع مبر ز عنایت که عاقبت

آتش زند به خرمن غم دود آه تو


hamed
@hamed Oct. 10, 2024, 4:18 p.m.

Key Persian terms and nuances:

نافه چین: Chinese musk deer
نرگس: narcissus
خرام: stride

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.