Hāfez—Ghazal 342 “The veil of my Soul”
Translation by Daniel Reza Sabzghabaei
with guidance from Iago Gocheleishvili
https://danielsabzghabaei.com/
The dust of my body becomes the veil of my Soul’s1 face; bless the moment when from that face the curtain is thrown off. Such a cage is unfit for one with a pleasing voice as I; I go to Rezvān’s2 rose-bed for I am a bird of that meadow. It was not revealed just why I came, where I went; a pity that I am unaware of my purpose. How do I move around in the expanse of the pure world, when in the combined dwelling, I am boarded to a body. If the scent of delight comes from the blood of my heart— do not be astonished—for I am a sympathizer with the musk-pouch of Khotan.3 Do not gaze at the gold-brocade embroidery of my garment like the candle, for within my garment hidden burnings lie. Come before Hāfez and take his essence from him, for through Your being, none will hear me saying, “I am.”4 — حافظ۳۴۲ غزل Hejāb-e chehreh-ye jān mīshavad qobār-e tanam khoshā damī keh az ān chehreh pardeh barfekanam
Chonīn qafas nah sazāye cho man khosh-ālhānīst ravam beh golshan-e Rezvān keh morq-e ān chamanam
حجاب چهره جان میشود غبار تنم خوشا دمی که از آن چهره پرده برفکنم چنین قفس نه سزای چو من خوش الحانیست روم به گلشن رضوان که مرغ آن چمنم
Ayān nashod keh cherā āmadam kojā raftam darīq-o-dard keh qafel zeh kār-e khīshtanam
عیان نشد که چرا آمدم کجا رفتم دریغ و درد که غافل ز کار خویشتنم
Chegūneh touf konam dar fezāye ālam-e qods keh dar sarache-ye tarkib takhteh band-e tanam
چگونه طوف کنم در فضای عالم قدس که در سراچه ترکیب تخته بند تنم
Agar ze khūn-e delam būye shoq mīāyad ajab madār keh hamdard-e nāfe-ye Khotanam
اگر ز خون دلم بوی شوق میآید عجب مدار که همدرد نافه ختنم
Tarāz-e pīrhan-e zarkesham mabīn chūn sham keh sūzhāst nahānī darūn-e pīrhanam Bīā-vo hastī-ye Hāfez ze pīsh-e ū bardār keh bā vojūd-e tou kas neshnavad ze man keh manam
طراز پیرهن زرکشم مبین چون شمع که سوزهاست نهانی درون پیرهنم بیا و هستی حافظ ز پیش او بردار که با وجود تو کس نشنود ز من که منم
1
Or Spirit, Life; some translate this as “the Belovèd” as well.
2
Rezvān ()رضوان, an angel and foremost guardian of Paradise (Heaven) in Islam; referred to in various hadiths.
Khotan ( )خنتwas a kingdom located on the Silk Road (today surviving as a city in Xinjiang). A native deer from the region Āhū-ye Khotan ( )آهوی خنتis still poached today for its musk gland to make perfumes. Here Hāfez is comparing himself to this deer, saying his musk pouch is his heart and his musk comes from within; he sympathizes with the deer, since he too is hunted for his essence. 3
In the final maqtā, Hāfez addresses God (some say the Belovèd), saying no one will hear or see me, for my existence is consumed in yours; no one will hear me because i will not speak, as I am lost in you—my existence is your existence. 4