Intent On Madness

Intent on Madness

Intent on madness deserts I tread
Reveal my scars to tulips red

Her beauty's rays ov'rwhelm my mind
'Tis not for naught disgrace I find

Surrendered all to beauty's power
With all my heart I signed this offer

Drunk as I am with fancy's face
I am by choice in wine's embrace

Taken to head, her thoughts are mine
Open the bottle, worship the wine

The heart, a bird, restless, insane
I tied its wings with jasmine mane

Perchance a glance is thrown my way
By Tavern door I'll wait and pray

I found those lips looking like wine
That's why I turned to goblet fine

Cupfuls of flowers, mem'ries of her face
I've seen in the cup a garden of grace

To drink I must, rapture's my way
I've chosen the sea, be it what may!


          Abul Qasem Ghazanfar
          18 June 1980
           Translated from the Persian by the author
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

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Salehi Avatar
August 5, 2016 at 2:23 AM
Hello my friend, When you translate a Ghazal (let say from Hafez), the translation must be in a form of ghazal as well. Your translations are couplets not ghazal.....
Ghazanfar Avatar
August 5, 2016 at 9:25 PM
No need. I just wanted to give a sense of the content.
Espiritu Avatar
July 13, 2016 at 2:09 AM
this is absolutely a masterpiece...
Ghazanfar Avatar
July 14, 2016 at 3:29 PM
Thank you, Frederick, for your generous comment. I am happy that in translation from my Poem in Persian to English, I have been able to convey the essence of thought and feeling, and that you were able to detect it. I am honored to be part of this group.
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