News Of Love

You who’ve heard
no news of love
strive that you
may be master of this news

If you’ve not become
a traveller on this path
how can you prove
to be a guide?

In the school of perfect truths
try to please love’s master
so you, son, may someday too
become a father

Sleeping and eating have left you
far below love’s attainment
only when awake and hungry
can you reach love’s heights

When God’s love illumines
your heart and soul
You will be more brilliant
than the noonday sun

Wash your hands free
from the copper of this life
so you may gain love’s alchemy
and be turned to gold

When from head to foot
only God’s light remains
then footless and headless
on the path of Divine Majesty you will be

When you’ve been immersed in that Ocean
don’t think for a moment
a single hair’s been drenched
in any earthly sea

When you’ve attained
the vision of the Face
no doubt will remain
you ever held that vision

When above and below
the foundations of your life lie in ruins
don’t think for a moment
you are bound by either

Hafiz! when desire for perfect union
enters your head
you’d best become dust
in the court of that Vision

Clouds borne
from the distant past arrive

I long for the way of wine
the wandering singer has come

Wrapped in beauty
the blessed ones sit

And I just a pauper
ashamed of my empty purse

O Sky — how long
will this shame go on?

In this drought of generosity
it’s not right to sell one’s honor

For the price of a Sufi cloak
you could buy both wine and rose

Out of this lean time
great works will come

Last night as I prayed
the sun of creation dawned

The rose entered the garden
on its lips a hundred thousand smiles

You might say it caught the scent
of that generous one who sits alone

In this dissolute world
if your cloak becomes torn do not fear

For even among the company of the blessed
one’s cloak must be rent as well

Those words I spoke in praise
of Your lips — who spoke?

And that tyranny I felt in the tip
of Your curl — who felt?

Since the Sultan’s justice
ignores the plight of lovers

Those who sit alone in silence
must give up love of comfort

I do not know who shot the arrow
that pierced the lover in Hafiz’ breast

I do know however among these lines
fresh blood was spilt

If only that holy bird
would alight by me
once more

The hair I lost
the years that pass
might return to me again

By these tears I hope
the lightning of blessing
will flash across my horizons

So the true Beloved whose foot
I touch with my head
might return

For what else do I exist
but to scatter jewels
in praise of Your step?

I go in pursuit of the Beloved
and if I never return
listen my friends for any news

What prevents hearing
is the harp of endless talk
and late sleep in the morning

If I were wide awake
He would hear my morning prayer
and return

On the rooftops of happiness
I am beating the drum of good fortune
I see the moon of new journeying approach

In desire for the light
of the King’s face
I’ve become entirely a moon

Hafiz — this news is a blessing
He safely returns
to your door