When God created the shape of your captivating eyebrow: Ghazal 32 by Hafez

When God created the shape of your captivating eyebrow: Ghazal 32 by Hafez

By @admin on July 31, 2024

When God created the shape of your captivating eyebrow: Ghazal 32 by Hafez

By admin @admin | poet: Hafez Shirazi

خدا چو صورتِ ابرویِ دلگشای تو بست

گشادِ کارِ من اندر کرشمه‌هایِ تو بست

***

مرا و سروِ چمن را به خاکِ راه نشاند

زمانه تا قَصَبِ نرگسِ قبای تو بست

***

ز کارِ ما و دلِ غنچه صد گره بگشود

نسیمِ گل چو دل اندر پیِ هوایِ تو بست

***

مرا به بندِ تو دورانِ چرخ راضی کرد

ولی چه سود که سررشته در رضای تو بست

***

چو نافه بر دلِ مسکینِ من گره مَفِکن

که عهد با سرِ زلفِ گره‌گشایِ تو بست

***

تو خود وصالِ دگر بودی ای نسیمِ وصال

خطا نِگر که دل امید در وفایِ تو بست

***

ز دستِ جورِ تو گفتم زِ شهر خواهم رفت

به خنده گفت که حافظ برو، که پایِ تو بست؟

***


Description:

English Translation

When God created the shape of your captivating eyebrow,
He tied my fate to your coquetries.

He made me and the cypress of the garden bow down to the dust of your path,
When time tied the knot of your narcissus-colored garment.

A hundred knots were untied from my affairs and my heart's bud,
When the breeze of the rose, like the heart, became captivated by your desire.

The cycle of time made me content with your captivity,
But what good is it if the thread of my fate is tied to your pleasure?

Do not tie a knot like a curl on my poor heart,
For I have made a covenant with your lock-loosening curl.

You yourself were another union, O breeze of union,
Don't blame me for having hope in your loyalty.

I said I would leave the city because of your cruelty,
You laughed and said, "Go, Hafez, for your foot is tied."


admin
@admin July 31, 2024, 3:01 p.m.

A Brief Explanation of the Translation

Love and Captivity: The poem explores the theme of being captivated by love, and the bittersweet nature of this captivity.
The Beloved as a Captor: The beloved is depicted as a powerful and alluring figure who holds the poet's heart captive.
The Cypress and the Rose: These are common symbols in Persian poetry, often representing the beloved and the lover.

admin
@admin July 31, 2024, 3:01 p.m.

Key Themes:

Love and Devotion: The poet expresses deep devotion to his beloved.
Beauty and Allure: The beloved is described as possessing unparalleled beauty.
Fate and Destiny: The poet explores the role of fate and destiny in love.

admin
@admin July 31, 2024, 3:02 p.m.

Some key Persian words and their nuances that are difficult to fully capture in English:

قصَب: A type of garment, often made of silk.
نرگس: Narcissus, often used to symbolize the beloved's eyes.
ناف: A curl.