We have not come to this door seeking honor and prestige, Ghazal 366 by Hafez

By hamed @hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi

No lines yet


Description:

This ghazāl by Hafez expresses a deep longing for divine love and a sense of humility before the beloved. The poet presents himself as a seeker of spiritual knowledge and a humble servant of the divine.

Key Themes:

Love and devotion: The poet expresses a profound and unwavering devotion to his beloved.
Spiritual journey: The poet's journey towards spiritual enlightenment is often associated with the path of love.
Humility and repentance: The poet acknowledges his shortcomings and seeks forgiveness.
Divine love: The poet seeks union with the divine through love.


English Translation for Ghazal

We have not come to this door seeking honor and prestige
We have come here for refuge from misfortune.


We are travelers on the path of love, and from the border of non-existence
We have come all this way to the realm of existence.

We have seen the green of your handwriting and from the garden of paradise
We have come seeking this plant of love.

With such a treasure whose keeper is a faithful spirit
We have come begging to the door of the king.

Where is the anchor of your patience, O ship of success?
For in this ocean of grace, we have come drowning in sin.

Our reputation is fading, O cloud of forgiveness, rain
For in the ledger of deeds, we have a black record.

Hafez, cast off this woolen robe, for we
Have come following the caravan with a fire of sighs.

Ghazal in Persian

ما بدین در نه پِیِ حشمت و جاه آمده‌ایم

از بد حادثه این جا به پناه آمده‌ایم

 

رهروِ منزلِ عشقیم و ز سرحدِّ عَدَم

تا به اقلیمِ وجود این همه راه آمده‌ایم

 

سبزهٔ خطِّ تو دیدیم و ز بُستانِ بهشت

به طلبکاریِ این مهرگیاه آمده‌ایم

 

با چُنین گنج که شد خازنِ او روحِ امین

به گدایی به درِ خانهٔ شاه آمده‌ایم

 

لنگرِ حِلمِ تو ای کِشتیِ توفیق کجاست؟

که در این بحرِ کَرَم غرقِ گناه آمده‌ایم

 

آبرو می‌رود ای ابرِ خطاپوش ببار

که به دیوانِ عمل نامه سیاه آمده‌ایم

 

حافظ این خرقهٔ پشمینه بینداز که ما

از پِیِ قافله با آتشِ آه آمده‌ایم


hamed
@hamed Oct. 9, 2024, 6:53 a.m.

Key Persian terms and nuances:

عَدَم: non-existence, nothingness
وجود: existence, being
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.