What could be better than the thought of wine and a cup? Ghazal 391 by Hafez

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What could be better than the thought of wine and a cup? Ghazal 391 by Hafez

By hamed @hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi | 6 1

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Description:

In this ghazāl, Hafez celebrates the joy of life, wine, and poetry, and encourages the reader to embrace the present moment rather than worry about the future.

Key Themes:

Carpe diem: The poet urges the reader to seize the day and enjoy life's pleasures.
The futility of worry: Hafez emphasizes the futility of worrying about the future or the opinions of others.
The power of poetry: The poet celebrates the transformative power of poetry and music.

English Translation for Ghazal

What could be better than the thought of wine and a cup?
To see what the end will be


How long can one endure heartache? For days do not remain
So don’t be heartbroken, and what will days be?

Tell the impatient bird to worry about its own grief
For what will be the mercy of the one who sets a trap?

Drink wine, do not worry, and do not heed the advice of the imitator
What will be the value of the opinion of the masses?

Your hard-earned wealth is better spent on pleasure
Do you know what will be the end for the unsuccessful?

The old man of the tavern was singing a riddle last night
About the line on the cup, what will the end be?

I took Hafiz’s heart on the road with a tambourine, lute, and ghazal
So what will be the reward for my bad reputation?

متن غزل

خوشتر از فکر می و جام چه خواهد بودن؟

تا ببینم که سرانجام چه خواهد بودن

 

غم دل چند توان خورد؟ که ایام نماند

گو نه دل باش و نه ایام چه خواهد بودن؟

 

مرغ کم‌حوصله را گو غم خود خور که بر او

رحم ِ آن کس که نهد دام چه خواهد بودن؟

 

باده خور غم مخور و پند مقلد منیوش

اعتبار سخن عام چه خواهد بودن؟

 

دست‌رنج تو همان به که شود صرف به کام

دانی آخر که به ناکام چه خواهد بودن؟

 

پیر میخانه همی‌خواند معمایی دوش

از خط جام که فرجام چه خواهد بودن

 

بردم از ره دل حافظ به دف و چنگ و غزل

تا جزای من بدنام چه خواهد بودن

hamed
@hamed Oct. 10, 2024, 6:36 a.m.

Key Persian terms and nuances:

می: wine
جام: cup
غم: sorrow
مرغ کم‌حوصله: impatient bird, often used as a metaphor for a human being
دام: trap
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.

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