Hafiz
Ghazal 220, Aspirations
Although our preacher will not like
to hear such honesty,
He'll never be a Muslim while
he's such a pharisee.
Learn to get drunk, be a gentleman
not some dumb animal
That cannot drink a drop of wine
or be a man at all.
The essence must be unalloyed
to make His grace our own,
Or from our clay no pearls will come
nor coral come from stone.
The Almighty shall fulfill His will.
rejoice, my heart! No con
Or devilry can turn a demon
into a Solomon.
Mine is the noble art of love.
I hope against belief
This craft won't bring, as others brought,
despondency and grief.
Last night he said "Tomorrow I
will grant your heart's desire"
God let him have no change of heart
nor let him be a liar.
May God add a good heart to all
your physical attraction
So you'll no longer torment me
with harrowing distraction.
Hafiz! Unless a mote of dust
aspires to lofty height,
It is not drawn to the true fount
from which the sun draws light.