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This ghazal by Saadi Shirazi is a luminous example of how the Persian masters weave together sensual beauty and spiritual symbolism until the two become indistinguishable.
چه دل‌ها بردی ای ساقی به ساق فتنه‌انگیزت
دریغا بوسهْ چندی بر زنخدان دلاویزت

خدنگ غمزه از هر سو نهان انداختن تا کی
سپر انداخت عقل از دست ناوک‌های خونریزت

برآمیزی و بگریزی و بنمایی و بربایی
فغان از قهر لطف‌اندود و زهر شِکَّرآمیزت

لب شیرینت ار شیرین بدیدی در سخن گفتن
بر او شکرانه بودی گر بدادی ملک پرویزت

جهان از فتنه و آشوب یک چندی برآسودی
اگر نه روی شهرآشوب و چشم فتنه‌انگیزت

دگر رغبت کجا ماند کسی را سوی هشیاری
چو بیند دست در آغوش مستان سحرخیزت

دمادم درکش ای سعدی شراب صرف و دم درکش
که با مستان مجلس درنگیرد زهد و پرهیزت

English translation of Saadi Shirazi’s ghazal:

O Cupbearer, how many hearts you’ve stolen
With the seduction of your enchanting glance!
Alas, how many kisses have been lost,
Upon the sweetness of your beguiling chin.
How long will you go on,
Casting secret arrows from every side?
Reason has thrown away its shield,
Before the bloodletting darts of your eyes.
You come near and then flee,
You reveal yourself and then you steal away —
Alas for your kindness veiled in cruelty,
Your poison blended with the taste of sugar!
If the sweetness of your lips were known
When you spoke,
King Parviz himself would offer thanks,
And gladly give away his throne to you.
The world might rest from turmoil for a while,
If not for your city-disturbing face,
And your gaze that stirs the seeds of chaos.
Who could still desire sobriety,
When they see the early-rising drunkards
Resting in the circle of your arms?
Drink, Saadi — drink again, sip after sip,
For in the gathering of the intoxicated,
There is no place for restraint or piety.