When I become dust beneath her feet, she will shake her skirt of me, Ghazal 401 by Hafez

When I become dust beneath her feet, she will shake her skirt of me, Ghazal 401 by Hafez

By @hamed on October 10, 2024

When I become dust beneath her feet, she will shake her skirt of me, Ghazal 401 by Hafez

By hamed @hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi

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Description:

In this ghazāl, Hafez explores themes of unrequited love, longing, and the suffering of a lover. The poet is deeply infatuated with his beloved, who seems indifferent to his affections.

Key Themes:

Unrequited love: The poet's love is not reciprocated, causing him great pain and suffering.
The power of beauty: The beloved's beauty is so captivating that it has caused the poet to lose sight of reason.
The transience of life: The poet reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of loss.


English Translation for Ghazal

When I become dust beneath her feet, she will shake her skirt of me
And if I say, “Turn your heart away,” she will turn away from me


She shows her colorful face to everyone like a flower
And if I say, “Cover up,” she covers up from me

I told my eye, “Finally, take one good look at her”
It said, “Do you want me to pour out a river of blood from me?”

She is thirsty for my blood, and I am at her lips, so that
Either I may take pleasure from her or she may take justice from me

If I die a bitter death like Farhad, it doesn’t matter
Many sweet stories will remain from me

If I burn like a candle before her, she will laugh at my sorrow
Or if I don’t burn, she will be offended by my delicate heart

Look at my friends who have given their lives for her mouth
Who has anything left of me, even a little?

Be patient, Hafiz, for if this is the lesson of sorrow
Love will tell a story about me in every corner

Ghazal in Persian

چون شوم خاک رهش دامن بیفشاند ز من

ور بگویم دل بگردان رو بگرداند ز من

 

روی رنگین را به هر کس می‌نماید همچو گل

ور بگویم بازپوشان بازپوشاند ز من

 

چشم خود را گفتم آخر یک نظر سیرش ببین

گفت می‌خواهی مگر تا جوی خون راند ز من؟

 

او به خونم تشنه و من بر لبش تا چون شود

کام بستانم از او یا داد بستاند ز من

 

گر چو فرهادم به تلخی جان برآید باک نیست

بس حکایت‌های شیرین باز می‌ماند ز من

 

گر چو شمعش پیش میرم بر غمم خندان شود

ور برنجم خاطر نازک برنجاند ز من

 

دوستان جان داده‌ام بهر دهانش بنگرید

کو به چیزی مختصر چون باز می‌ماند ز من

 

صبر کن حافظ که گر زین دست باشد درس غم

عشق در هر گوشه‌ای افسانه‌ای خواند ز من


hamed
@hamed Oct. 10, 2024, 3:48 p.m.

Key Persian terms and nuances:

دامن: skirt
روی: face
جوی خون: river of blood
فرهاد: a legendary lover in Persian mythology known for his unrequited love for Shirin
شمع: candle

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.