غزل شمارهٔ 319

Years, the pursuit of the service of profligates I made : Until, by wisdom's decree, greed into prison, I put.

Not of myself, took I the path to the abode of the (inaccessible) 'Anka (the true Beloved) With the bird of Sulaiman (the lapwing), the travelling of the stage, I made.

O treasure of desire ! on my heart-wound, thy shade cast : For, by exceeding desire for thee, this house (the heart) desolate, I made.

I repented, saying: "The Saki's lip J will not kiss." And, now, My lip, I bite ; because my ear to the (counsel of the) foolish, I placed.

Contrary to usage, seek desire. As, From that dishevelled tress (of Thine) the acquisition of tranquillity (which is contrary to usage) I made.

Not in my hand, nor in thine, is the picture of abstinence and of intoxication ; What the Lord of eternity without beginning said : " Do " ; that, I did.

From (through) the grace of eternity without beginning, paradise, I greedily desire : Although, door-keeping of the wine-house, much I did.

This that the society of Yusuf (divine grace) cherisheth my elderly head, Is the reward of that patience that, in the sorrowful cell, I made.

Morning-rising (open-heartedness) and salvation-seeking, like Hafiz : Whatever I did, all from the fortune of the Kuran, I did.

If in the Divan of ghazals (the assembly, whereat songs they sing), on the chief seat, I sat, what wonder ? Years, the service of the master of the Divan, I made.