Hafiz Shirazi Quotes

…The heavens could not bear my debt And wrote me as a madman in my fate. But lovers bled their hearts And on the face of the Beloved Did a beauty spot create. The fire that burns In the flame of the lamp Is not the fire; It burns in the essence of The moth and consumes him entire…

…The love of his youth Appeared as in a dream And this ageing lover Went mad with love. The youth robbed him of Reason and his chastity. In pursuit of his Beloved, mad, deranged, He was from kith and kin estranged. The fire of the rose’s cheek Burnt the nightingale’s heart; The laughing flame Tormented the devoted moth…

When shall I get to kiss thee?’ I asked. ‘By all means you can forever ask,’ she answered. ‘Your lips ask a heavy price,’ I said. ‘It’s a fair exchange of one so fair,’ she said. ‘What lips are worthy for your mouth and lips?’ I asked. ‘Only the discerning can this secret know,’ she answered. ‘Don’t worship idols, be with the Truth,’ I said. ‘In the Way of Love, both are allowed,’ she said. I said, ‘The tavern helps to heal the heart.’ ‘Blessed are those who heal the lonely heart,’ she answered. ‘It’s not religion, the priestly robe, the wine,’ I said. ‘But to the gnostic both lead to the Divine,’ she answered. ‘What use to an old man of youthful lips?’ I asked. ‘By such sweet kissing, he grows young!’ she answered. ‘When shall the bridegroom embrace the bride?’ ‘When the stars are that way inclined.’ I said, ‘The prayer of Hafiz is for His glory.’ ‘This is the prayer of angels too, in heaven,’ she answered.

That beautiful Shirazi Turk, took control and my heart stole, I'll give Samarkand & Bukhara, for her Hindu beauty mole. O wine-bearer bring me wine, such wine not found in Heavens By running brooks, in flowery fields, spend your days and stroll. Alas, these sweet gypsy clowns, these agitators of our town Took the patience of my heart, like looting Turks take their toll. Such unfinished love as ours, the Beloved has no need, For the Perfect Beauty, frills and adornments play no role. I came to know Joseph's goodness, that daily would increase Even the chaste Mistress succumbed to the love she would extol. Whether profane or even cursed, I'll reply only in praise Sweetness of tongue and the lips, even bitterness would enthrall. Heed the advice of the wise, make your most endeared goal, The fortunate blessed youth, listen to the old wise soul. Tell tales of song and wine, seek not secrets of the world, None has found and no-one will, knowledge leaves this riddle whole. You composed poems and sang, Hafiz, you spent your days well Venus wedded to your songs, in the firmaments' inverted bowl.

When God designed your features and joined your brows Paved my way, then trapped me with your gestures & bows The spruce and I, both rooted to the ground Fate, like a fine cloth belt, its bind endows. United the knots of my doing and of the budding heart The fragrant breeze, when to you it made its vows. Fate convinced me to be enslaved to thee Yet nothing moves unless your will allows. Like an umbilical cord, don't wrap around my heart It is your flowing lock of hair that I espouse. You were the desire of another, O breeze of union, Alas, my heart's hope and fire you douse. I said because of your infliction I shall leave my house Smilingly said go ahead Hafiz, with chained hooves and paws. Ghazaliyat Of Hafiz Shirazi Khajeh Shamseddin Mohammad Hafiz Shirazi