WITH WINE BESIDE A GENTLY FLOWING BROOK—THIS IS BEST;
Withdrawn from sorrow in some quiet nook—this is best;
Our life is like a flower’s that blooms for ten short days,
Bright laughing lips, a friendly fresh-faced look—this is best.
translated by Dick Davis
14th Century Persian poetry
from Now I’m Homeless by Hafiz
O Beloved, I’ve given up my religion and my worldly goods in order to be
With You, and now I’m homeless and work all day for wine.
If Hafiz dies in the dust of Your doorway, dreaming of Your hair,
He will have lived a full life and died smiling there.
translated by Thomas Rain Crowe
from Look at This Beauty by Hafiz
No one, not even Hafiz, can desribe with words the Great Mystery.
No one knows in which shell the priceless pearl does hide.
translated by Thomas Rain Crowe
from a poem by Hafez
I heard the lilies say, “The world is old,
to take things lightly here–is sweet.”
Hafez, the happy heart ignores the world;
don’t think dominion here–is sweet
translated by Dick Davis
from a love poem by Hafez
And like a hawk I’ve seeled* my eyes to all
The world, to glimpse the face that I adore.
Whover strays within your street, it is
Your eyebrow’s curve that he will pray before;
O friend, to know the fire in Hafez’ heart
Ask candles what they’re burning, melting, for.
translated by Dick Davis
*seeled is an archaic verb that means to close the eyes, to prevent from seeing
untitled poem by Jahan Malek Khatun
Your face usurps the fiery glow and hue
of roses;
And with your face here, what have I to do
with roses?
Your ringlets’ fragrance is so sweet, my friend,
No fragrant rose-scent could entice me to
seek roses–
Besides, the faithless roses’ scent will fade,
Which is a serious drawback, in my view
of roses;
And if the waters of eternal life
Had touched their roots, so that they bloomed anew,
these roses,
When could they ever form a bud as sweet
As your small mouth, which is more trim and true
than roses?
translated by Dick Davis
from Jahan Malek Khatun: 3
Last night, my love, my life, you lay with me,
I grasped your pretty chin, I fondled it,
And then I bit, and bit, your sweet lips till
I woke. . .It was my fingertips I bit.
translated by Dick Davis
from Jahan Malek Khatun: 2
I told my heart, “I can’t endure this tyranny!
He’s nothing, no one! What’s this bully’s love to me?”
My little heart, you’re like a boundless sea, it seems;
And common sense? A splinter somewhere on that sea.
translated by Dick Davis
from Jahan Malek Khatun: 1
The roses have all gone; “Goodbye,” we say; we must;
And I shall leave the busy world one day; I must;
My little room, my books, my love, my sips of wine–
All these are dear to me; they’ll pass away; they must.
translated by Dick Davis
advice from Hafez
My friend, hold back your heart from enemies,
Drink shining wine with handsome friends like these;
With art’s initiates undo your collar–
Stay buttoned up with ignoramuses.
translated by Dick Davis
Leonard Durso 