To tell you my heart's state is a desire: Ghazal 42 by Hafez
To tell you my heart's state is a desire: Ghazal 42 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
حالِ دل با تو گفتنم هوس است
خبرِ دل شِنُفتَنَم هوس است
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طَمَعِِ خام بین که قِصهٔ فاش
از رقیبان نَهُفتَنَم هوس است
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شبِ قدری چنین عزیزِ شریف
با تو تا روز خُفتنم هوس است
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وه که دُردانه‌ای چنین نازک
در شبِ تار سُفتنم هوس است
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ای صبا امشبَم مَدَد فرمای
که سحرگه شکفتنم هوس است
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از برای شَرَف به نوُکِ مژه
خاکِ راهِ تو رفتنم هوس است
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همچو حافظ به رَغمِ مُدَعیان
شعرِ رندانه گفتنم هوس است
***
Description:
English Translation:
To tell you my heart's state is a desire,
To hear the news of my heart is a desire.
See the raw hope that it is a desire
To hide my open secret from rivals.
To sleep with you until dawn on such a precious
Night of Power is a desire.
Alas, that such a delicate pearl
Should be lost in the dark night is a desire.
O gentle breeze, aid me tonight,
For I desire to blossom at dawn.
For honor's sake, at the tip of my eyelashes,
It is my desire to tread the dust of your path.
Like Hafez, in spite of the claimants,
It is my desire to speak witty poetry.
Explanation of the Ghazal
In this ghazal, Hafez expresses a deep longing for his beloved and a desire for spiritual union. He uses various metaphors and symbols to convey his emotions.
Key Themes:
Love and Longing: The poet expresses an intense longing for his beloved.
Spiritual Seeking: The ghazal hints at a spiritual quest and a desire for divine connection.
Secrecy and Openness: There is a tension between the desire to keep the love a secret and the desire to express it openly.
The Beloved as a Pearl: The beloved is likened to a precious pearl, suggesting their value and fragility.
Key Persian terms and their nuances:
شب قدر: Night of Power, a holy night in Islam
صبا: A gentle breeze, often used as a messenger in Persian poetry
مژه: Eyelash
This ghazal is a beautiful example of Hafez's poetic mastery, combining deep emotional expression with exquisite language and imagery. The poet's ability to convey the intensity of his feelings makes this ghazal a timeless classic.