Ghazal 489: O you in whose face the lights of kingship are plain to see

ای در رخ تو پیدا انوار پادشاهی
در فکرت تو پنهان صد حکمت الهی

کلک تو بارک الله بر ملک و دین گشاده
صد چشمه آب حیوان از قطرهٔ سیاهی

بر اهرمن نتابد انوار اسم اعظم
ملک آن توست و خاتم فرمای هر چه خواهی

در حکمت سلیمان هر کس که شک نماید
بر عقل و دانش او خندند مرغ و ماهی

باز ار چه گاه گاهی بر سر نهد کلاهی
مرغان قاف دانند آیین پادشاهی

تیغی که آسمانش از فیض خود دهد آب
تنها جهان بگیرد بی منت سپاهی

کلک تو خوش نویسد در شأن یار و اغیار
تعویذ جان‌فزایی افسون عمرکاهی

ای عنصر تو مخلوق از کیمیای عزت
و ای دولت تو ایمن از وصمت تباهی

ساقی بیار آبی از چشمهٔ خرابات
تا خرقه‌ها بشوییم از عجب خانقاهی

عمری‌ست پادشاها کز می تهی‌ست جامم
اینک ز بنده دعوی، وز محتسب گواهی

گر پرتوی ز تیغت، بر کان و معدن افتد
یاقوت سرخ‌رو را بخشند رنگ کاهی

دانم دلت ببخشد بر عجز شب‌نشینان
گر حال بنده پرسی از باد صبحگاهی

جایی که برق عصیان بر آدم صفی زد
ما را چگونه زیبد دعوی بی‌گناهی؟

حافظ چو پادشاهت گهگاه می‌برد نام
رنجش ز بخت منما بازآ به عذرخواهی

O you in whose face the lights of kingship are plain to see,
and in whose thought a hundred kinds of divine wisdom lie hidden.

Your pen, God bless it, has opened upon kingdom and faith
a hundred springs of the water of life from one drop of blackness.

The lights of the Greatest Name do not shine on Ahriman;
the kingdom is yours, and the seal: command whatever you wish.

Whoever shows doubt about the wisdom of Solomon,
the birds and the fish will laugh at his reason and learning.

Though the falcon now and then sets a cap upon its head,
it is the birds of Mount Qaf who know the custom of kingship.

The sword that the sky tempers with its own grace
will take the world alone, owing nothing to an army.

Your pen writes well, as befits friend and stranger:
a charm that increases life, a spell that shortens it.

O you whose substance was made from the elixir of honour,
and whose fortune is safe from the stain of ruin.

Cupbearer, bring water from the spring of the tavern,
that we may wash our cloaks clean of the pride of the dervish lodge.

For a lifetime, O king, my cup has been empty of wine;
here is the claim from your servant, and the censor is the witness.

If one ray from your sword should fall on mine and quarry,
the red-faced ruby would be given the colour of straw.

I know your heart will take pity on the weakness of those who sit up at night,
if you ask the morning wind how your servant is.

Where the lightning of disobedience struck Adam, the chosen one,
how would a claim to be without sin become us?

Hafez, since the king mentions your name now and then,
do not show resentment at your fortune: come back with an apology.

Interpretation of the fal

Your affair is with a capable and wise person who can do whatever they wish: do not doubt their power or judgement. For some time you have been without their favour: put your need to them humbly. Do not think yourself without fault. They have not forgotten you: so do not complain of your luck, and go back to them with an apology.