Ghazal 309 of Hafez (9 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.
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COUPLET 1
عشقبازیّ و جوانیّ و شرابِ لَعلْ‌فاممجلسِ اُنس و حریفِ همدم و شُربِ مدام
eshghbâzi o javâni o sharâb-e la'l-fâm / majles-e ons o harif-e hamdam o shorb-e modâm
Love and youth and ruby-colored wine; a friendly gathering, a close companion and drinking without end;
COUPLET 2
ساقیِ شِکَّردهان و مُطربِ شیرین‌سخنهمنشینی نیک‌کردار و ندیمی نیک‌نام
sâghi-ye shekkar-dahân o motreb-e shirin-sokhan / hamneshini nik-kerdâr o nadimi nik-nâm
a sugar-lipped cupbearer and a sweet-voiced singer, a companion of good conduct and a drinking friend of good name;
COUPLET 3
شاهدی از لطف و پاکی رَشکِ آبِ زندگیدلبری در حُسن و خوبی غیرتِ ماهِ تمام
shâhedi az lotf o pâki rashk-e âb-e zendegi / delbari dar hosn o khubi gheyrat-e mâh-e tamâm
a beauty whose grace and purity make the water of life jealous, a charmer whose loveliness makes the full moon envious;
COUPLET 4
بَزم‌گاهی دل‌نِشان، چون قصرِ فردوسِ بَرینگلشنی پیرامُنَش چون روضهٔ دارُالسَّلام
bazmgâhi del-neshân chon ghasr-e ferdows-e barin / golshani pirâmonash chon rowze-ye dâros-salâm
a delightful banquet hall like the palace of highest paradise, with a rose garden around it like the Garden of Peace;
COUPLET 5
صف‌نشینان نیک‌خواه و پیشکاران باادبدوست‌داران صاحب‌اسرار و حریفان دوست‌کام
saf-neshinân nikkhâh o pishkârân bâ-adab / dustdârân sâheb-asrâr o harifân dust-kâm
guests in their rows wishing everyone well, courteous attendants, loving friends who keep secrets, and companions who want what their friends want;
COUPLET 6
بادهٔ گلرنگِ تلخِ تیزِ خوش‌خوارِ سَبُکنُقلَش از لَعلِ نگار و نَقلَش از یاقوتِ خام
bâde-ye golrang-e talkh-e tiz-e khoshkhâr-e sabok / noghlash az la'l-e negâr o naghlash az yâghut-e khâm
rose-red wine, bitter, strong, smooth to drink and light, with sweets from the beloved's ruby lips and talk of the raw ruby;
COUPLET 7
غمزهٔ ساقی به یَغمایِ خِرَد آهِخته تیغزلفِ جانان از برایِ صیدِ دل گسترده‌دام
ghamze-ye sâghi be yaghmâ-ye kherad âhekhte tigh / zolf-e jânân az barâ-ye seyd-e del gostarde dâm
the cupbearer's glance with its sword drawn to plunder reason, the beloved's curl spread like a net to catch hearts;
COUPLET 8
نکته‌دانی بَذله‌گو چون حافظِ شیرین‌‌سخنبخشش‌آموزی جهان‌افروز چون حاجی قوام
nokte-dâni bazle-gu chon Hâfez-e shirin-sokhan / bakhshesh-âmuzi jahân-afruz chon hâji ghavâm
a witty master of fine points like sweet-spoken Hafez, and a world-brightening teacher of generosity like Haji Qavam.
COUPLET 9
هر که این عِشرت نخواهد خوش‌دلی بر وی تباهوان که این مجلس نجوید زندگی بر وی حرام
har ke in eshrat nakhâhad khoshdeli bar vey tabâh / v-ân ke in majles najuyad zendegi bar vey harâm
Whoever does not want this pleasure, may joy be ruined for him; whoever does not seek this gathering, may life be forbidden to him.
What this fâl tells you
This fal paints a perfect gathering: good wine, good music, good friends and a generous host. Tradition reads it as a sign of celebration and good company ahead. Accept the invitation, gather the people you trust, and let yourself enjoy what is offered without guilt.
A traditional-style reading for reflection and enjoyment.
How this ghazal is built
radif: none. qâfiye: -âm (fâm, modâm, nâm, tamâm, salâm, kâm, khâm, dâm, ghavâm, harâm). A list poem that praises Haji Qavam al-Din, Hafez's patron.
Key words
| Word | Say it | Meaning (modern Persian) |
|---|---|---|
| و | va / o | and dictionary |
| javâni | youth; youthful dictionary | |
| sharâb | wine dictionary | |
| مجلس | majles | gathering, feast dictionary |
| harif-e | companion of (in drinking) dictionary | |
| همدم | hamdam | close friend, companion dictionary |
| مدام | modâm | constant, lasting; also "wine" (pun) dictionary |
| sâghi | cupbearer dictionary | |
| nadimi | a boon companion dictionary | |
| shâhedi | a beauty dictionary | |
| لطف | lotf | grace, refinement dictionary |
| pâki | purity dictionary | |
| rashk | jealousy dictionary | |
| âb | water; stream dictionary | |
| zendegi | life dictionary | |
| delbari | a heart-stealer, a charmer dictionary | |
| dar | in; door dictionary | |
| hosn | beauty dictionary | |
| khubi | goodness, beauty dictionary | |
| gheyrat | jealousy (of love); zeal dictionary | |
| ماه | mâh | moon (image for a beautiful face) dictionary |
| tamâm | full, complete; mâh-e tamâm = full moon dictionary | |
| چون | chon | since, when; like dictionary |
| قصر | ghasr | palace dictionary |
| فردوس | ferdows | paradise dictionary |
| bâ-adab | courteous, well-mannered dictionary | |
| dustdârân | those who love, lovers dictionary | |
| harifân | companions, drinking friends dictionary | |
| bâde | wine dictionary | |
| talkh | bitter dictionary | |
| tiz | strong, sharp dictionary | |
| sabok | light dictionary | |
| نقلش | noghlash / naghlash | its sweets (noghl, eaten with wine); also its talk, its tale (naghl): a pun dictionary |
| لعل | la'l | ruby; lab-e la'l = ruby lips dictionary |
| یاقوت | yâghut | ruby; here the red wine in the cup dictionary |
| khâm | raw, uncut dictionary | |
| be | to; for; with; in, by dictionary | |
| یغمای | yaghmâ | plunder dictionary |
| kherad | reason, wisdom dictionary | |
| tigh | sword, blade dictionary | |
| zolf | curl, lock of hair dictionary | |
| jânân | the beloved (معشوق) | |
| barâ-ye | for dictionary | |
| seyd | prey; hunting dictionary | |
| del | heart dictionary | |
| bazle-gu | witty, full of jokes dictionary | |
| Hâfez | Hafez, the poet's pen name (takhallos); literally "one who knows the Quran by heart" dictionary | |
| هر | har | every dictionary |
| in | this dictionary | |
| نخواهد | nakhâhad | will not dictionary |
| bar | on, upon dictionary | |
| vey | it, him, her (= u) (او) | |
| وان | v-ân | and the one (= va ân) (و آن) dictionary |
| نجوید | najuyad | does not seek dictionary |
| harâm | forbidden dictionary |
Persian text: Ganjoor (ganjoor.net), Hafez, ghazal 309. Transliteration, translation, glosses and reading: Learn Persian Online.
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