Hafez Translation: Come! For last night, the tavern’s unseen voice told me to be pleased with the divine decree and not to flee from destiny Between Lover and Beloved there is no barrier You yourself are your own veil, Hafez. Remove yourself! Original: بیا که هاتف میخانه دوش با من گفت…
Persian Visual Poems
Hafez’s poetry and Persian Miniatures come to life: Hafez: Translation: Love’s minstel has wonderful harmony and melody Every song in his repertoire has a path to a place May the world never be empty of the cry of lovers Because it has a sweet and joyful voice Although our dreg-draining Pir has neither gold…
Those who believe are more intense in love…
Quran 2:165 وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذَابِ “Translation”: Among the people are some who take peers apart from God, loving them as if loving God….
The Wisdom of Khusrau
Translation: Poverty is more pleasant than majesty; depravity, more pleasant than piety. Majesty has its headaches, and when last I looked beggary was more pleasant. Since kings let no one approach them, being indigent among the poor is more pleasant When pride gets into someone’s…
The path to the well is rough…
Two more gems from Amir Khusrau, Bahut kathin and Tori Surat: Bahut kathin Translation: The path to the well is too rough How can I fill my pitcher? When I went to fill my pitcher with water In my rush, I broke my pot. Khusro has given his whole life to you, O Nizam. Would you…
Clouds cry
Transliteration (first lines) Abr mi barad-o man shovm-e az yar-e judaa Choon kunam dil becheneen roz zedildar judaa. Abr baraan wa man-o yar satadah ba-widaa’ Man judaa girya kunaan, abr judaa, yaar judaa Translation: The cloud weeps, and I become separated from my friend – How can I separate my heart from my heart’s friend…
Two Ghazals from Hafez
I’ve quoted from these before, but here are two of my favorite ghazals in their entirety: (If the videos on the other pages on this site don’t appear for you, try emptying your cache and reloading the page) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0CRm37FQr4 Translation: The outward ascetic has no knowledge of our state …
You left, but stayed in my heart
Amir Khusro My heart left me, but longing for you won’t leave my heart My heart broke apart, but the pain of you won’t lessen The moon at night rises opposite your face but the day will never come when the moon can oppose it My face is pale gold, and I grind it with…
It is love, so surrender
Ibn al-Fāriḍ Translation: It is love, so surrender your body—passion is not easy One stricken by it would not choose it, had he reason So live without it, for love’s ease is hard it’s beginning is sickness, and its end is death But for me, dying in love longingly for the one I love, is…
Hafez: Minstrel vs. Philosopher
The minstrel played a melody from the pain of love that covered the philosopher’s eyelashes in blood -Hafez Translation: For years I pawned my book for wine, the rowdiness of the tavern was from my teaching and praying See the goodness of the Magian Pīr: Whatever we drunks did was…