Hafiz of Shiraz

Hafiz of Shiraz Poems

Hafiz of Shiraz Biography

Shams-ud-Din Muhammad Hafez of Shiraz known by his pen name Hafez was a Persian poet. His collected works are regarded as a pinnacle of Persian literature and are to be found in the homes of most people in Iran and Afghanistan, who learn his poems by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings to this day. His life and poems have been the subject of much analysis, commentary and interpretation, influencing post-fourteenth century Persian writing more than any other author.The work of Hafiz left an impact on such Western writers as Thoreau, Goethe, and Ralph Waldo Emerson—the latter referring to him as 'a poet's poet.')

The Best Poem Of Hafiz of Shiraz

Ghazal 9: Brothers Of The Way

Yester night, from temple to tavern, our Master went,
Brothers of the Way! 'What advice can be to us lent? '

How can we, the disciples, to the qibla make our way,
When the Master turned to where the tavern lay? '

In the Magian's tavern, we too will our sojourn make:
Our fate led us from primordiality to the path we take

Could the mind see what joy the heart in love received,
Wise men would lose mind, by our chain to be deceived

Your beaming face revealed to us from above a sign:
Grace and goodness are now destined to combine

Deep in the night, will your stony heart to softness turn
For our fiery sighs, and the grief our breasts can burn?

Hafiz! Silent! The arrows of our sighs pierce the sphere, Have pity on your soul! Our missiles, avoid and fear!


English Translation © Ali Salami
Tehran, Iran
salami2046@gmail.com

Hafiz of Shiraz Comments