We Have Come

(a ghazal by Hâfiz)

mâ bedin dar nah pay-e heshmat o jâh... âmadeh-’im
az bad-e hâdeseh injâ be-panâh... âmadeh-’im

To this door, not seeking pride or glory— we have come.
Seeking refuge here from the evil of ill fortune— we have come.

rahraw-e manzel-e ‘eshqim o ze sarhadd-e ‘adam
tâ be-eqlim-e vojud in hameh râh... âmadeh-’im

We are travelers on the stage of love's journey, and from the borders of nonexistence,
up to the realm of existence, all this way— we have come.

sabzeh-ye khatt-e to didim o ze bostân-e behesht
be-talab kâri-ye in mehr-giyâh... âmadeh-’im

We saw the freshness of thy features,
and seeking this magical protective herb from the garden of paradise— we have come.

bâ chonin ganj keh shod khâzen-e u ruh-e amin
be-gadâ’i be-dar-e khâneh-ye shâh... âmadeh-’im

With such treasure as there be in the treasure house of him, the Trustworthy Spirit (Angel Gabriel),
begging at the door of the house of the king— we have come.

langar-e helm-e to ay kashti-ye tawfiq kojâst
keh darin bahr-e karam gharq-e gonâh... âmadeh-’im

O ship of grace, where is thy anchor of forbearance?
For in this ocean of generosity, drowned in sin— we have come.

âbru mi-ravad ay abr-e khatâ-push be-bâr
keh be-divân-e ‘amal nâmeh siyâh... âmadeh-’im

Honor is going; O sin-covering cloud, rain down!
For in the court where our actions are judged, with a blackened book of deeds— we have come.

hâfez in kherqeh-ye pashmineh biyandâz keh mâ
az pay-e qâfeleh bâ âtash-e âh... âmadeh-’im

Hâfiz, throw away this patched woolen Sufi cloak, for
from behind the caravan, with the fire of the sigh "ah!"— we have come.

[Hafiz is telling himself to throw away the outward sign of piety, the Sufi khirqah, which is burned up by the fiery heat of his breath when he sighs spiritually from deep within his soul; the sigh is fire and represents the true, spontaneous, sincere, inner spiritual yearning as opposed to the hypocritical pious outward appearances. The rhythm of this ghazal when you read it out loud in Persian is exciting and intoxicating. The recurring refrain with the repeated long vowels and caesura forces you to take short, hot breaths.]

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