Ghazal 455: Life has gone by in fruitlessness and idle whims

عمر بگذشت به بی‌حاصلی و بوالهوسی
ای پسر جام می‌ام ده که به پیری برسی

چه شکرهاست در این شهر که قانع شده‌اند
شاه‌بازان طریقت به مقام مگسی

دوش در خیل غلامان درش می‌رفتم
گفت: «ای عاشق بیچاره تو باری چه کسی؟»

با دل خون‌شده چون نافه خوشش باید بود
هر که مشهور جهان گشت به مشکین‌نفسی

لمع البرق من الطور و آنست به
فلعلی لک آت بشهاب قبس

کاروان رفت و تو در خواب و بیابان در پیش
وه که بس بی‌خبر از غلغل چندین جرسی

بال بگشا و صفیر از شجر طوبی زن
حیف باشد چو تو مرغی که اسیر قفسی

تا چو مجمر نفسی دامن جانان گیرم
جان نهادیم بر آتش ز پی خوش‌نفسی

چند پوید به هوای تو ز هر سو حافظ
یسر الله طریقا بک یا ملتمسی

Life has gone by in fruitlessness and idle whims;
boy, give me the cup of wine, and may you live to be old.

What sugar there must be in this city, that
the royal falcons of the Path have settled for the station of a fly.

Last night I was walking among the troop of slaves at his door;
he said: "O helpless lover, and who are you, after all?"

With a heart turned to blood, like the musk-pod, one must be glad,
whoever has become famous in the world for a musk-scented breath.

The lightning flashed from Sinai, and I caught sight of it;
perhaps I may bring you a burning brand.

The caravan has gone, and you are asleep, with the desert ahead;
alas, how deaf you are to the clamour of so many bells.

Open your wings and sound your call from the Tuba tree;
it is a pity that a bird such as you should be the captive of a cage.

So that for one breath, like the censer, I might take hold of the beloved's skirt,
we have laid our soul on the fire for the sake of a sweet breath.

How long is Hafez to run in every direction in desire of you?
May God make a road to you easy, O you whom I entreat.