You, who are like a crown upon the heads of all beauties, Ghazal 97 by Hafez
You, who are like a crown upon the heads of all beauties, Ghazal 97 by Hafez
By
@admin | poet: Hafez Shirazi
تویی که بر سرِ خوبانِ کشوری چون تاج
سِزَد اگر همهٔ دلبران دَهَندَت باج
***
دو چشمِ شوخِ تو برهم زده خَطا و حَبَش
به چینِ زلفِ تو ماچین و هند داده خراج
***
بیاضِ رویِ تو روشن چو عارِضِ رُخِ روز
سوادِ زلفِ سیاهِ تو هست ظلمت داج
***
دهانِ شهدِ تو داده رواج آب خِضِر
لبِ چو قندِ تو بُرد از نباتِ مصر رواج
***
از این مرض به حقیقت شفا نخواهم یافت
که از تو دردِ دل ای جان، نمی‌رسد به عِلاج
***
چرا همی‌شکنی جانِ من ز سنگدلی؟
دلِ ضعیف که باشد، به نازکی چو زُجاج
***
لبِ تو خضر و دهانِ تو آبِ حیوان است
قدِ تو سرو و میان موی و بَر، به هیئت عاج
***
فِتاد در دلِ حافظ هوایِ چون تو شَهی
کمینه ذرهٔ خاکِ درِ تو بودی کاج
***
Description:
English Translation:
You, who are like a crown upon the heads of all beauties,
It would be fitting if all the heartbreakers paid you tribute.
Your two playful eyes have defeated both the Ethiopians and the Abyssinians,
To the curls of your hair, China and India have paid tribute.
The whiteness of your face is as bright as the cheek of the day,
The blackness of your dark locks is the darkness of a storm cloud.
Your honeyed mouth has made the water of Khidr famous,
Your sugar-like lips have taken precedence over the sugar cane of Egypt.
Truly, I will never find a cure for this sickness,
For the heartache I have from you, O my life, has no remedy.
Why do you break my heart with your heartlessness?
A weak heart, which is as delicate as glass.
Your lips are Khidr, and your mouth is the water of life,
Your stature is a cypress, and your waist, hair, and brow are like ivory.
A desire for a beauty like you has fallen into Hafez's heart,
I would be content to be the smallest speck of dust at your door.
Explanation of the Ghazal
In this ghazal, Hafez expresses deep admiration and love for his beloved. He uses vivid imagery and comparisons to emphasize the beauty and power of his beloved.
Key Themes:
Love and Devotion: The poet expresses deep love and devotion for his beloved.
The Power of Beauty: The poet extols the beauty of his beloved and its ability to captivate him.
Spiritual Longing: The ghazal alludes to the spiritual journey of the lover, emphasizing the importance of divine intervention.
Key Persian terms and their nuances:
خَطا و حَبَش: Ethiopia and Abyssinia (representing distant lands)
ماچین و هند: China and India (representing distant lands)
عارِضِ رُخِ روز: The cheek of the day (the sun)
آبِ خِضِر: The water of Khidr, a legendary prophet associated with eternal life and knowledge
زُجاج: Glass
خضر: Khidr, a prophet in Islamic tradition associated with eternal life and knowledge
This ghazal is a beautiful example of Hafez's poetic mastery, combining deep emotional expression with rich imagery. The poet's use of metaphors and similes creates a vivid and evocative picture of his beloved.