We have tested our fortune in this city, Ghazal 291 by Hafez
We have tested our fortune in this city, Ghazal 291 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
ما آزموده‌ایم در این شهر بختِ خویش
بیرون کشید باید از این وَرطه رَختِ خویش
***
از بس که دست می‌گَزَم و آه می‌کشم
آتش زدم چو گُل به تنِ لَخت لَختِ خویش
***
دوشم ز بلبلی چه خوش آمد که می‌سرود
گل گوش پهن کرده ز شاخِ درختِ خویش
***
کای دل تو شاد باش که آن یارِ تندخو
بسیار تند روی نشیند ز بختِ خویش
***
خواهی که سخت و سست جهان بر تو بگذرد
بگذر ز عهدِ سست و سخن‌هایِ سختِ خویش
***
وقت است کز فراقِ تو وز سوزِ اندرون
آتش درافکنم به همه رَخت و پَختِ خویش
***
ای حافظ ار مراد مُیَسَّر شدی مدام
جمشید نیز دور نماندی ز تخت خویش
***
Description:
English Translation:
We have tested our fortune in this city,
We must pull our garments out of this whirlpool.
From biting my lips and sighing so much,
I've set myself on fire, piece by piece, like a flower.
Last night, a nightingale sang so sweetly,
With its ears wide open, from its branch.
O heart, be happy, for that quick-tempered beloved,
Will soon sit down from her own bad luck.
If you want the world to pass over you easily,
Pass over your weak promises and harsh words.
It is time that I set fire to all my clothes and belongings,
From the separation from you and the burning within.
O Hafez, if your wish is fulfilled, always,
Even Jamshid did not remain on his throne forever.
Explanation of the Ghazal
This ghazal by Hafez is a deeply personal expression of pain, longing, and a desire for liberation. The poet expresses his weariness with worldly affairs and his longing for spiritual fulfillment.
Key Themes:
The pain of love and longing: The poet is deeply wounded by love and longs for release.
The impermanence of worldly things: The poet reflects on the futility of worldly pursuits and the inevitability of change.
Spiritual longing: The poet expresses a longing for spiritual enlightenment and a desire to escape the pain of worldly attachments.
The power of fate: The poet acknowledges the role of fate and destiny in human affairs.
Key Persian terms and nuances:
وَرطه: Whirlpool
لَخت لَخت: Piece by piece
بلبلی: Nightingale
یارِ تندخو: Quick-tempered beloved
جمشید: A legendary king in Persian mythology associated with a golden age
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.