One of the better English translations of one of my favorite poems from the greatest poet, Hafez:
Your lost Joseph will return to Canaan, do not grieve
This house of sorrows will become a garden, do not grieve
Oh grieving heart, you will mend, do not despair
This frenzied mind will return to calm, do not grieve
When the spring of life sets again in the meadows
A crown of flowers you will bear, singing bird, do not grieve
If these turning epochs do not move with our will today
The spheres of time are not constant, do not grieve
Don’t lose hope, for awareness cannot perceive the unseen
Behind the curtains hidden scenes play, do not grieve
Oh heart, should a flood of destruction engulf the world
If Noah is at your helm, do not grieve
As you step through the desert longing for the Ka’aba
The thorns may reproach you, do not grieve
Home may be perilous and the destination out of reach
But there are no paths without an end, do not grieve
Our state in separation from friends and with demands of foes
The God who spins fate knows all, do not grieve
Hafez, in the corner of poverty and loneliness of dark nights
As long as your words are prayers and lessons of Quran, do not grieve.
(Modified from http://ghiasi.org/2009/06/yousef-e-gomgashtehlost-joseph/)
Original:
یوسف گمگشته بازآید به کنعان غم مخور
کلبه احزان شود روزی گلستان غم مخور
ای دل غمدیده حالت به شود دل بد مکن
وین سر شوریده بازآید به سامان غم مخور
گر بهار عمر باشد باز بر تخت چمن
چتر گل در سر کشی ای مرغ خوشخوان غم مخور
دور گردون گر دو روزی بر مراد ما نرفت
دایما یک سان نباشد حال دوران غم مخور
هان مشو نومید چون واقف نهای از سر غیب
باشد اندر پرده بازیهای پنهان غم مخور
ای دل ار سیل فنا بنیاد هستی برکند
چون تو را نوح است کشتیبان ز طوفان غم مخور
در بیابان گر به شوق کعبه خواهی زد قدم
سرزنشها گر کند خار مغیلان غم مخور
گر چه منزل بس خطرناک است و مقصد بس بعید
هیچ راهی نیست کان را نیست پایان غم مخور
حال ما در فرقت جانان و ابرام رقیب
جمله میداند خدای حال گردان غم مخور
حافظا در کنج فقر و خلوت شبهای تار
تا بود وردت دعا و درس قرآن غم مخور
Piercing and profound.
So nice, i love “hafez”, tnx for this nice one translate.
One of the poem that makes me happy every day that i read it.
that makes me proud to an iranian
An evergreen gift! In fact, this also goes for the richness permeating this blog.
can you please tell me who is original translator of this poem????
I love this poem. So beautiful and profound, just like the translator❤️
such a profound interpretation. This is not just a translation. A rich Iranian heritage a pride of every persian . Hafez
absolutly amazing
Thank you very much for this – exactly what I was looking for – Gertrude Bell’s and Wilberforce-Clarke’s translation not adequate! (I am planning a Youtube video). خیلی ممنون
I love this poem. So beautiful and profound and Thank you for Providing Valuable Content
Moteshaker I am amazed what a wonderful gift