Though it's rude to display one's skills before the beloved: Ghazal 64 by Hafez
Though it's rude to display one's skills before the beloved: Ghazal 64 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
اگر چه عرض هنر پیشِ یار بی‌ادبیست
زبان خموش، ولیکن دهان پُر از عربیست
***
پری نهفته رخ و دیو در کرشمهٔ حُسن
بسوخت دیده ز حیرت که این چه بوالعجبیست
***
در این چمن گلِ بی خار کس نچید آری
چراغِ مصطفوی با شرارِ بولَهَبیست
***
سبب مپرس که چرخ از چه سفله پرور شد
که کام بخشی او را بهانه بی سببیست
***
به نیم جو نخرم طاقِ خانقاه و رباط
مرا که مَصطَبه ایوان و پای خُم طَنَبیست
***
جمالِ دختر رَز نورِ چشمِ ماست مگر
که در نقابِ زجاجی و پردهٔ عِنبیست
***
هزار عقل و ادب داشتم من ای خواجه
کنون که مستِ خرابم، صلاح بی‌ادبیست
***
بیار می که چو حافظ هزارم استظهار
به گریهٔ سحری و نیازِ نیم شبیست
***
Description:
English Translation:
Though it's rude to display one's skills before the beloved,
My tongue is silent, yet my heart is full of Arabic verse.
A fairy hides her face, and a devil lurks in her beauty's charm;
My eyes burn in wonder at this strange paradox.
In this garden, a thornless rose has never been plucked, truly;
The light of the Prophet is combined with the flame of a lowly lamp.
Don't ask why the heavens nurture the lowly,
For giving pleasure to them is a baseless excuse.
For half a grain, I would not exchange my place in a tavern or caravanserai,
For me, a bench in the courtyard and the foot of a wine jug is enough.
The beauty of the rose-faced maiden is the light of our eyes, perhaps,
Hidden behind a glass veil and a grape-colored curtain.
I had a thousand wits and manners, O master,
Now that I am a drunken wretch, rudeness is appropriate.
Bring me wine, for Hafez has a thousand complaints,
From the morning's tears to the midnight's plea.
Explanation of the Ghazal
In this ghazal, Hafez explores themes of love, divine beauty, and the complexities of human experience. He uses vivid imagery and paradoxical statements to convey deeper meanings.
Key Themes:
Divine Beauty: The beloved is often seen as a symbol of the divine, and the poet's love for them is spiritual.
Paradox and Irony: Hafez often uses paradoxical statements to convey deeper meanings, challenging conventional wisdom.
The Nature of Beauty: The poet explores the paradoxical nature of beauty, which can be both alluring and deceptive.
The Poet's Lament: Hafez expresses his pain and longing for the beloved, while also celebrating the freedom of his poetic expression.
Key Persian terms and their nuances:
عرض هنر: To display one's skills
پری: Fairy
بوالعجب: Strange, wondrous
مصطفوی: Related to the Prophet Muhammad
بولَهَب: A low flame
خانقاه: Monastery
رباط: Caravanserai
مصطبه: Bench
طنب: A kind of wine jug
زجاجی: Glass
عِنبی: Grape-colored
This ghazal is a beautiful example of Hafez's poetic mastery, combining deep philosophical thoughts with a celebration of love. The poet's use of metaphors and similes creates a rich tapestry of meaning.