Ghazal 418 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.
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What this fâl tells you
Some things are not in your hands, and this fal asks you to accept them with a bowed head and a calm heart. Tradition reads it as advice to keep things simple: choose joy or keep silent, and do not waste time on long sermons. What you long for asks for patience, and patience is bitter before it is sweet.
A traditional-style reading for reflection and enjoyment.
How this ghazal is built
radif: none. qâfiye: -âh (mâh, lellâh, gomrâh, kutâh, allâh, âh, alghâh, bigâh). Beyt 6 is entirely Arabic; 1.2 and 4.2 end in Arabic phrases.
Key words
| Word | Say it | Meaning (modern Persian) |
|---|---|---|
| گر | gar | if (= agar) (اگر) dictionary |
| tigh | sword, blade dictionary | |
| bârad | rains (down) dictionary | |
| dar | in; door dictionary | |
| ku-ye | street, quarter (of) (کوچه) | |
| ân | that dictionary | |
| ماه | mâh | moon (image for a beautiful face) dictionary |
| گردن | gardan | neck dictionary |
| نهادیم | nahâdim | we laid dictionary |
| al-hokmo | the judgment, the rule (Arabic) (حکم) | |
| taghvâ | piety dictionary | |
| ما | mâ | we, us; our dictionary |
| نیز | niz | also dictionary |
| dânim | we know dictionary | |
| لیکن | likan | but (ولی) |
| چه | che | what; how much! dictionary |
| چاره | châre | remedy, way out dictionary |
| bâ | with dictionary | |
| bakht | fortune, luck dictionary | |
| sheykh | sheikh, religious elder dictionary | |
| و | va / o | and dictionary |
| واعظ | vâ'ez | preacher dictionary |
| کمتر | kamtar | less dictionary |
| shenâsim | we know, are acquainted with dictionary | |
| یا | yâ | O (vocative); or dictionary |
| jâm | cup dictionary | |
| bâde | wine dictionary | |
| قصه | ghesse | story dictionary |
| کوتاه | kutâh | short dictionary |
| من | man | I, me dictionary |
| rend | free spirit, rogue who scorns hypocrisy dictionary | |
| âshegh | lover dictionary | |
| گل | gol | rose; flower dictionary |
| گاه | gâh | time; ân gâh = then; gâh o bigâh = at all hours dictionary |
| مهر | mehr | love, kindness dictionary |
| to | you dictionary | |
| aksi | a reflection dictionary | |
| bar | on, upon dictionary | |
| نیفکند | nayafkand | did not cast dictionary |
| delat | your heart dictionary | |
| as-sabro | patience (Arabic) (صبر) | |
| morron | bitter (Arabic) (تلخ) | |
| al-omro | life (Arabic) (عمر) | |
| فان | fânin | passing, perishing (Arabic) (فانی) |
| لیت | layta | would that (Arabic); yâ layta = if only (کاش) |
| hattâma | until when? how long? (Arabic) (تا کی) | |
| alghâh | I meet him/her (Arabic) (او را ببینم) | |
| Hâfez | Hafez, the poet's pen name (takhallos); literally "one who knows the Quran by heart" dictionary | |
| nâli | you lament dictionary | |
| khâhi | you want dictionary | |
| khun | blood dictionary | |
| khord | drink (short infinitive after bâyad) dictionary |
Persian text: Ganjoor (ganjoor.net), Hafez, ghazal 418. Transliteration, translation, glosses and reading: Learn Persian Online.
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