Ghazal 23 of Hafez (7 couplets), in the original Persian as on Ganjoor, with a transliteration, a plain English translation, the meanings of key words and the traditional fâl-e Hâfez reading.
Read it word by wordTake your own fâl
What this fâl tells you
Someone you love is always with you in thought, even when they cannot be seen. Tradition reads this fal as a sign that patient longing is noticed: if your hand cannot yet reach what you want, blame only timing, not your worth. Knock at the door you care about; it may be opened for you.
A traditional-style reading for reflection and enjoyment.
How this ghazal is built
radif: mâ-st ("is ours"). qâfiye: -ah / -eh (hamrah, âgah, movajjah, chah, kutah, dargah, moraffah, mah). In the last beyts the voice shifts and the beloved (or a patron) seems to speak.
Key words
| Word | Say it | Meaning (modern Persian) |
|---|---|---|
| khiyâl | fancy, notion dictionary | |
| ru-ye | face of (ezafe) (چهره) dictionary | |
| to | you dictionary | |
| dar | in; door dictionary | |
| هر | har | every dictionary |
| tarigh | way, path dictionary | |
| همره | hamrah | companion of (همراه) |
| نسیم | nasim | breeze dictionary |
| موی | mu-ye | hair of dictionary |
| پیوند | peyvand | bond, link dictionary |
| jân | life, soul dictionary | |
| âgah | aware, informed (آگاه) | |
| be | to; for; with; in, by dictionary | |
| modda'iyâni | pretenders, those who make false claims dictionary | |
| منع | man' | prohibition, forbidding dictionary |
| کنند | konand | (they) do, make dictionary |
| jamâl | beauty dictionary | |
| چهرهٔ | chehre | face dictionary |
| hojjat | proof, argument dictionary | |
| bebin | see! look! dictionary | |
| sib | apple dictionary | |
| zanakhdân | chin; "apple of the chin" with a dimple ("well") is a classic image (چانه) | |
| چه | che | what; how much! dictionary |
| میگوید | miguyad | says dictionary |
| هزار | hezâr | thousand; also "nightingale" (hezâr-dastân) dictionary |
| mesri | of Egypt; yusof-e mesri = Joseph of Egypt dictionary | |
| فتاده | fetâde | fallen (افتاده) dictionary |
| agar | if dictionary | |
| zolf | curl, lock of hair dictionary | |
| derâz | long dictionary | |
| dast | hand dictionary | |
| ما | mâ | we, us; our dictionary |
| نرسد | narasad | does not reach dictionary |
| گناه | gonâh | sin dictionary |
| bakht | fortune, luck dictionary | |
| پریشان | parishân | scattered, disheveled; distressed dictionary |
| و | va / o | and dictionary |
| کوته | kutah | short (کوتاه) |
| hâjeb | doorkeeper, chamberlain dictionary | |
| begu | tell! say! dictionary | |
| ze | from, of (= az) (از) | |
| گوشهنشینان | gushe-neshinân | recluses, those who live apart dictionary |
| khâk | dust, earth dictionary | |
| dargah | threshold, court (درگاه) | |
| surat | outward appearance, form dictionary | |
| نظر | nazar | sight; ahl-e nazar = people of insight, connoisseurs of beauty dictionary |
| محجوب | mahjub | hidden, veiled dictionary |
| ast | is dictionary | |
| همیشه | hamishe | always dictionary |
| khâter | mind, heart dictionary | |
| sâli | in a year, once a year dictionary | |
| Hâfez | Hafez, the poet's pen name (takhallos); literally "one who knows the Quran by heart" dictionary | |
| dari | a door, a doorway dictionary | |
| zanad | strikes; dam zadan = to speak, to breathe dictionary | |
| bogshây | open! untie! (باز کن) dictionary | |
| sâl-hâst | it has been years dictionary | |
| مشتاق | moshtâgh | longing, yearning (for) dictionary |
| چون | chon | since, when; like dictionary |
| مه | mah | moon (= mâh) (ماه) |
Persian text: Ganjoor (ganjoor.net), Hafez, ghazal 23. Transliteration, translation, glosses and reading: Learn Persian Online.
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