غزل شمارهٔ 169

Friendship in none, I perceive. To friends what hath happened? Friendship ended when? To friends what hath happened?

Black of hue became the water of life. Khizr, auspicious of foot, is where? From its own color, the rose hath changed. To the spring-breeze what hath happened?

None saith: “A friend preserved the right of friendship.” Those right-understanding, what state hath befallen? To friends what hath happened?

Years it is since no ruby came from the mine of manliness: To the sun’s heat, to the wind’s effort, to the rains, what hath happened?

This land was “the city of friends” and “the dust of kind ones” Friendship, how ended? To the city friends, what hath happened?

Into the midst, the ball of grace and of liberality, they have cast: In the plain none appeareth. To the horsemen what hath happened?

Many a rose hath blossomed; no cry of a bird hath risen: To the nightingales, what hath chanced? To those of a thousand notes what hath happened?

No sweet melody, maketh Zohre. Perchance, she hath consumed her lute: Intoxication, none desireth. To the wine-drinkers, what hath happened?

Hafez! Divine mysteries, none knoweth. Silence! Of whom, askest thou saying: “To the state of Time’s revolution, what hath happened?”