Best Hafiz Poems
Infectious!
by Hafiz
loose translation by Michael R. Burch
I became infected with happiness tonight
as I wandered idly, singing in the starlight.
Now I'm wonderfully contagious—
so kiss me!
Infinite solitude
I don't know what that is
But I know Poet Helal Hafiz
I know he was not good in the life of love
But love is the true food of his poetic dove
Oh, Helen of Netrakona destroyed the Troy of poetic vision
Love killed the poet on the illusive path of economic session
Very naive, the poet was very simple like the water
But in that water burning love and rebellion were
No, love is nothing else except the horrible brutal hangman
In whose hands the poet has given his life to make an interment
I know you were not good
In this journey, I still say - stay well, O Poet of Sooth
© Mahtab Bangalee
17th December, 2024
Chattogram
Dispensing Keys
by Hafiz
translation by Michael R. Burch
The imbecile
constructs cages
for everyone he knows,
while the sage
(who has to duck his head
whenever the moon glows)
keeps dispensing keys
all night long
to the beautiful, rowdy,
prison gang.
Where are you staying these days? Are you doing fine? Send me letters.
One twilight hue rejoiced with the whimsical hand fan, bought from fair
How is that doing at your hand so late at night, like this? Send me letters.
Which page on the calendar is grieving with me, absorbed
Bright eyes, chanting gazes, yearn there as they adore you. Send me letters.
Which word muses along as hours pass, they play around as the day progresses?
Which memory plays it safe , whispering to be soaked in floodgate of the lovers’ lane?
Send me letters . Send me letters, Send me letters,
Or else, not any more words to forbid, cuddle time with oblivion to chime
The loser was this, me, who is relevant , there to be?
Even though I loved thee to find only mistakes with me. Mistake, mistake.
The gone astray dandelion, and the pollen, sprinkler delight within
My killer noises of the solitude, noon hours, through my five, What else , anyway?
In one life , wastage , how much of that will there be, anymore, anyhow?
One Beatrice , to inflict heartache, how much pain of that will there be, anymore, anyhow?
Guarding-
Protects all on whom his will falls!