Samples of the poetry of Hafiz (‘memorizer’), a poet-saint who lived in Shiraz, Iran in the fourteenth century. Hafiz wrote in Persian (aka Farsi) so what you will see here are translations.

No "translation" is ever the same as the original, so there will always be controversy. Daniel Ladinsky is a case in point. People either love or hate his "translations". Arguments about the authenticity of translations, though valid, will be kept off of this group.


گفتم غم تو دارم، گفتا غمت سرآيد
گفتم كه ماه من شو، گفتا اگر برآيد


I said I long for thee
You said "your sorrows will end."
Be my moon, rise up for me
"Only if it will ascend."