Here is our translation of the famed ode by Persian poet Hafez –
Ode 1
O wine server, bring around the cup of wine
And serve it, for the course of love seemed smooth
At first, and then came the time of sorrows.
We are still hoping that the morning breeze
May bring us the scent of her dark musky hair,
That left so many hearts, broken, a-bleeding.
Let your prayer rug be soaked with red wine,
That is what the Magian master says, and he is
A voyager who knows the path and its many stations.
What safety is there for me in the station of the beloved?
The trumpets blare out constantly:
They beckon us to pack up for departure.
The dark night, the frightful storm, and a whirlpool
So fierce – how can they know what we go through,
Those fools who go lightly along the shore?
My whole story took me from whims of desire,
To notoriety and disgrace. How could a secret remain
Concealed, when they bring it out at so many a gathering?
The moment you find the one you desire,
Be there for her, if you truly desire her,
And leave all the rest, Hafez!
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