Our devotion and the threshold of the Beloved: Ghazal 58 by Hafez
Our devotion and the threshold of the Beloved: Ghazal 58 by Hafez
By
@fatemeh | poet: Hafez Shirazi
سرِ ارادتِ ما و آستانِ حضرت دوست
که هر چه بر سرِ ما می‌رود ارادتِ اوست
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نظیرِ دوست ندیدم اگر چه از مَه و مِهر
نهادم آینه‌ها در مقابلِ رخِ دوست
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صبا ز حالِ دلِ تنگِ ما چه شرح دهد؟
که چون شِکَنجِ ورق‌هایِ غنچه تو بر توست
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نه من سَبوکش این دیرِ رندسوزم و بس
بسا سَرا که در این کارخانه سنگ و سبوست
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مگر تو شانه زدی زلفِ عنبرافشان را؟
که بادْ غالیه‌سا گشت و خاکْ عنبربوست
***
نثارِ رویِ تو هر برگِ گل که در چمن است
فدای قَدِّ تو هر سروبُن که بر لبِ جوست
***
زبانِ ناطقه در وصفِ شوق نالان است
چه جای کِلکِ بریده‌زبانِ بیهُده‌گوست؟
***
رخِ تو در دلم آمد مراد خواهم یافت
چرا که حالِ نکو در قَفایِ فالِ نکوست
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نه این زمان دلِ حافظ در آتشِ هوس است
که داغدار ازل همچو لالهٔ خودروست
***
Description:
English Translation
Our devotion and the threshold of the Beloved
Whatever befalls us is a result of our devotion to Him.
I've seen none like the Beloved, though I've compared Him to moon and sun.
I've placed mirrors before the Beloved's face.
What can the gentle breeze say of my narrow heart?
It's as twisted as the petals of a rosebud yearning for you.
I am not a mere jug in this tavern of the wise,
Many a palace in this world is just a pile of stones and jugs.
Did you perhaps comb your amber-scented tresses?
For the wind has become like musk and the dust like amber.
Every flower petal in the meadow is an offering to your face,
Every cypress by the river is sacrificed to your stature.
The eloquent tongue is too weak to describe this yearning,
What hope is there for a broken, useless pen?
Your face has entered my heart, I shall find my desire,
For a good omen follows a good sight.
Hafez's heart is not now inflamed with lust,
But is marked from eternity, like a wild tulip.
Explanation of Key Themes and Imagery
Divine Love: The central theme is the poet's intense love and devotion to a divine or beloved figure.
Mystical Imagery: Hafez uses images of mirrors, gardens, and the beloved's beauty to convey spiritual and mystical experiences.
Sufi Concepts: The poem alludes to Sufi concepts such as the unity of being and the search for the divine.
Temporal and Eternal: The poet contrasts the transitory nature of worldly things with the eternal nature of divine love.
Key Challenges in Translation
Sufistic Concepts: Terms like "Beloved" and "devotion" have deep spiritual connotations in Sufi tradition, which can be challenging to convey in English.
Poetic Devices: The imagery of mirrors, roses, and cypress trees is laden with symbolism that is difficult to fully capture in a direct translation.
Nuance and Ambiguity: Hafez's poetry often leaves room for multiple interpretations, and it can be difficult to choose a single meaning.
Sufistic and Mystical Themes: Hafez's poetry is often steeped in Sufi mysticism, filled with allegorical and symbolic language that can be difficult to convey directly into another language.
Cultural and Historical References: Many of his poems contain references to Persian history, mythology, and culture that may not be immediately understandable to a non-native speaker.
Poetic Devices: Hafez employs a wide range of poetic devices, such as metaphors, similes, and allusions, which can be challenging to render accurately in another language.
Nuances of Persian Language: Persian has a rich vocabulary and intricate grammar that can be difficult to capture in English.