Hafez Poem — الا یا ایها الـساقی ادر کاسا و ناولـها
Hafez, one of the most celebrated Persian poets, is known for his deep exploration of love, spirituality, and the human condition. His poetry often blurs the lines between earthly and divine love, offering profound insights into the nature of existence.
In this poem, Hafez addresses the complexities of love, initially perceived as simple but gradually revealing its challenges. He uses metaphors like the tavern, the wine, and the cupbearer to symbolize the pursuit of spiritual ecstasy and understanding. The poem reflects on the tumultuous journey of love and life, encouraging the embracement of experiences, both bitter and sweet, as essential to the soul’s journey.
- Ghazal 1 by Hafez (Hafiz)
- Meaning of the Poem in English
- English Translation of the Poem w/ Transliteration
- Meaning of the Poem in Farsi
- Heritage Web Spotlight
1) Ghazal 1 by Hafez (Hafiz)
You can read Ghazal 1 from Hafez’s divan (دیوان) here.
A divan in the Persian language is a compilation of a poet’s lifetime work. The numbering, non-sequential and not narrative-driven, is one of over 400 in Hafez (Hafiz) collection.
الا یا ایها الـساقی ادر کاسا و ناولـها
که عشق آسان نمود اول ولی افتاد مشکلهابـه بوی نافه‌ای کاخر صبا زان طره بگـشاید
ز تاب جعد مشکینش چه خون افـتاد در دلهامرا در منزل جانان چه امـن عیش چون هر دم
جرس فریاد می‌دارد که بربندید مـحـمـلهابـه می سجاده رنگین کن گرت پیر مغان گوید
کـه سالک بی‌خبر نبود ز راه و رسم منزلهاشـب تاریک و بیم موج و گردابی چنین هایل
کـجا دانـند حال ما سبکـباران ساحـلهاهمـه کارم ز خود کامی به بدنامی کشید آخر
نـهان کی ماند آن رازی کز او سازند محفلهاحضوری گر همی‌خواهی از او غایب مشو حافظ
مـتی ما تلق من تهوی دع الدنیا و اهملـها
2) Meaning of Poem in English
In this poem, Hafez contemplates the challenges and unpredictability of love, comparing it to a spiritual journey. He urges the embrace of life’s experiences, both joyful and challenging, as pathways to deeper understanding and connection with the divine. The poem calls to transcend worldly concerns in favor of spiritual fulfillment.
3) English Translation of Poem
الا یا ایها الـساقی ادر کاسا و ناولـها
که عشق آسان نمود اول ولی افتاد مشکل‌ها“O cupbearer, pour the wine and pass it around,
For love seemed easy at first, but then many difficulties arose.
English Transliteration
Ala ya ayyuha as-saqi adir kasa wa nawilha
Ke eshq asan namud avval vali aftad mashkelha
بـه بوی نافه‌ای کاخر صبا زان طره بگـشاید
ز تاب جعد مشکینش چه خون افـتاد در دل‌هاWith the fragrance of a lock of hair, the morning breeze unfolds,
What bloodshed has the dark curls of the beloved caused in hearts!
English Transliteration
Be boye nafe-i kakhir sabaa zan tara begshayad
Ze taab ja’de mashkinash che khun aftad dar delha
مرا در منزل جانان چه امـن عیش چون هر دم
جرس فریاد می‌دارد که بربندید مـحـمـل‌هاIn the abode of the beloved, how can I rest when every moment,
The bell tolls, urging us to pack up and move on.
English Transliteration
Mara dar manzel-e janana che amn eish chon har dam
Jeras faryad midarad ke barbandid mahmalha
بـه می سجاده رنگین کن گرت پیر مغان گوید
کـه سالک بی‌خبر نبود ز راه و رسم منزل‌هاIf the elder of the tavern tells you to color your prayer mat with wine,
Do it, for the experienced traveler knows all the stages of the journey.
English Transliteration
Be mai sajadeh rangin kon garet pir-e magan gooyad
Ke salik bi-khabar nabood ze rah o rasme manzelha
شـب تاریک و بیم موج و گردابی چنین هایل
کـجا دانـند حال ما سبکـباران ساحـل‌هاDark night, fear of waves, and the terrifying whirlpool,
How can the light-hearted on the shore understand our state?
English Transliteration
Shab-e tarik o bim-e moj o gerdabi chenin hayel
Koja danand hal-e ma sabukbaran-e sahelha
همـه کارم ز خود کامی به بدنامی کشید آخر
نـهان کی ماند آن رازی کز او سازند محفل‌هاAll my doings dragged me into ill-repute, in the end,
That secret of mine which became the talk of the town.
English Transliteration
Hameh karam ze khod kami be badnami keshid akhir
Nehan ki mand aan raz-i ke az ou sazand mahfelha
حضوری گر همی‌خواهی از او غایب مشو حافظ
مـتی ما تلق من تهوی دع الدنیا و اهملـهاIf you desire His presence, Hafez, do not be absent from Him,
Leave the world and its concerns, and ignore them.”
English Transliteration
Hozouri gar hemi khahi az ou ghayeb masho Hafez
Mat-e-ma talq man tahvi da al-donya wa ahmalha
4) Poem’s Meaning in Farsi
5) Heritage Web Spotlight
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