Poems from the Divan of Hafiz · 40 of 77

Ode XXXVIII

XXXVIII I CEASE not from desire till my desire Is satisfied; or let my mouth attain My love's red mouth, or let my soul expire, Sighed from those lips that sought her lips in vain. Others may find another love as fair; Upon her threshold I have laid my head, The dust shall cover me, still lying there, When from my body life and love have fled.

My soul is on my lips ready to fly, But grief beats in my heart and will not cease, Because not once, not once before I die, Will her sweet lips give all my longing peace. My breath is narrowed down to one long sigh For a red mouth that burns my thoughts like fire; When will that mouth draw near and make reply To one whose life is straitened with desire?

When I am dead, open my grave and see The cloud of smoke that rises round thy feet: In my dead heart the fire still burns for thee; Yea, the smoke rises from my winding-sheet! Ah, come, Beloved! for the meadows wait Thy coming, and the thorn bears flowers instead Of thorns, the cypress fruit, and desolate Bare winter from before thy steps has fled.

Hoping within some garden ground to find A red rose soft and sweet as thy soft cheek, Through every meadow blows the western wind, Through every garden he is fain to seek. Reveal thy face! that the whole world may be Bewildered by thy radiant loveliness; The cry of man and woman comes to thee, Open thy lips and comfort their distress!

Each curling lock of thy luxuriant hair Breaks into barbèd hooks to catch my heart, My broken heart is wounded everywhere With countless wounds from which the red drops start. Yet when sad lovers meet and tell their sighs, Not without praise shall Hafiz’ name be said, Not without tears, in those pale companies Where joy has been forgot and hope has fled.