Ghazal 333: At the strangers' evening prayer, when I begin to weep

نماز شام غریبان چو گریه آغازم
به مویه‌های غریبانه، قصه پردازم

به یاد یار و دیار آنچنان بگریم زار
که از جهان ره و رسم سفر براندازم

من از دیار حبیبم نه از بلاد غریب
مهیمنا به رفیقان خود رسان بازم

خدای را مددی ای رفیق ره تا من
به کوی میکده دیگر علم برافرازم

خرد ز پیری من کی حساب برگیرد؟
که باز با صنمی طفل، عشق می‌بازم

بجز صبا و شمالم نمی‌شناسد کس
عزیز من! که بجز باد نیست دم‌سازم

هوای منزل یار، آب زندگانی ماست
صبا بیار نسیمی ز خاک شیرازم

سرشکم آمد و عیبم بگفت روی به روی
شکایت از که کنم؟ خانگی‌ست غمازم

ز چنگ زهره شنیدم که صبح‌دم می‌گفت
«غلام حافظ خوش‌لهجهٔ خوش‌آوازم»

At the strangers' evening prayer, when I begin to weep,
with a stranger's laments I will tell my story.

Remembering friend and homeland I will weep so bitterly
that I will sweep the way and custom of travel out of the world.

I am from the land of the beloved, not from the cities of strangers;
O Guardian, bring me back to my companions.

For God's sake, some help, O companion of the road, so that
I may raise my banner once more in the street of the tavern.

How is reason to take account of my old age,
when once again I am playing at love with a youthful beauty?

No one knows me except the east wind and the north wind;
my dear, I have no confidant but the wind.

The air of the friend's dwelling is our water of life;
east wind, bring me a breath from the earth of Shiraz.

My tears came out and told my faults to my face;
of whom shall I complain? My informer is of my own household.

I heard from the harp of Venus, who was saying at dawn:
"I am the slave of Hafez of the sweet accent and sweet voice."

Interpretation of the fal

The fal speaks of exile and of homesickness for home and friends. If you have been separated from your own place, you long to go back, and that return is possible: ask God and your friends for help. Your loneliness is hard and no one knows how you are. Your own tears have given your secret away. For all that, your skill and your words will be praised.