FOUND IN TRANSLATION: HAFEZ OF SHIRAZ – HASSAN SHABANI & FARZAN RADFAR
INTRODUCTION
As an education officer with Cheshire Education Authority, I worked with David Selzer for fifteen years or more – David was my line manager. We worked on many educational initiatives mostly related to 14-19 years old curriculum, and all aspects of work related learning.
During these years, I always admired David’s calm attitude and fair choices during busy times. He was the master of creating a positive workplace where everyone felt safe to share ideas.
As a native Iranian, I must confess that David’s knowledge and understanding of Iran’s history, geography, culture and customs/traditions are impressive indeed and deserve respect. Thank you, David.
HASSAN SHABANI
I have known Hassan for a long time and it was his suggestion for David and I to meet because of our mutual love of poetry. It was great to meet and get to know David. I felt very excited when he asked me to translate into English some poems of one of the greatest Iranian poets, Hafez, and also contribute with some of my own poetry at a later date. I am really thankful for the opportunity.
FARZAN RADFAR
HAFEZ OF SHIRAZ: HASSAN SHABANI
Name: Shams-ud-Din Mohammad;
Birth: Circa 727 AH in Shiraz- Iran
Shams al-Din Muhammad Hafez—known as Hafez of Shiraz—is the most renowned poet in the history of Iran; his beautiful poems enjoy a vast following across the globe. The themes of his poetry are remarkably diverse: mysticism, love, spiritedness and unconventional wisdom, and criticism of hypocrisy and dissimulation – and his verses are frequently incorporated into traditional Iranian music, the visual arts, and calligraphy.
To Iranians, Hafez of Shiraz is regarded as a sage who possesses knowledge of hidden mysteries and the unseen realm. People turn to him—seeking omens through his poetry—when facing life’s challenges or dilemmas, as well as during various national observances.
Hafez’s mausoleum is located in Shiraz and is known as Hafeziyeh. It attracts thousands of literature and culture enthusiasts every year.
NEW TRANSLATIONS OF FIVE POEMS BY HAFEZ: FARZAN RADFAR
Hafez is, in the main, famous for writing some of the best ghazals in Persian poetry. Ghazal is a form of classic structured Persian poetry. It is normally around 8 to 13 couplets. The first couplet consists of two rhyming lines. As for the following couplets the first line of each does not rhyme but the second line rhymes with the very first couplet. The final couplet normally contains the poet’s name or pen name, which is a form of taking ownership of the ghazal.
In ghazals, like other forms of Persian structured poetry, the lines do not always have the same number of syllables. The syllables are either short or long. For instance dar, shen, bon, baa, buu and bii are long syllables but na, ke and cho are short syllables. In a ghazal or other forms of structured poetry the rhythm of the poem is created with a series of long and short syllables that have been put together in a particular form. This form applies to every line and hence the rhythm of the poem is the same throughout.
When I translate a poem the meaning of the poem is at the forefront of my mind. In translating a rhyming poem, I play with the format of each line so that I can find rhyming lines. So what happens is you end up with a poem in English that rhymes but not in the exact rhyme of the Persian one. The corresponding lines though have the same meaning but rhyme with different words to the original.
There is a tradition in Iran that people use Hafez’s ghazals to predict their fortune. So they open the book of Hafez’s ghazals randomly and read the corresponding ghazal. This is, in fact, the way I chose the five ghazals that I have translated. I hope you enjoy reading them.
I
The happy news came that sorrow shall not remain
It didn’t remain like that, and like this it shall not remain
Though to my lover I seem like some dust
My rival too so respected shall not remain
As the chamberlain slays all with his sword
Tenants of the privacy of harem shall not remain
No place to complain nor thanksgiving for good or bad
As on the pages of life a trace shall not remain
The anthem of the assembly of Jamshid* is said to have been
Bring the cup of wine that Jam* shall not remain
O candle appreciate your friendship with the moth
As this companionship till dawn shall not remain
O wealthy man console the hearts of the poor
As your treasure and cache of gold shall not remain
It is written on these sapphire pages in gold
But for good deeds nothing shall remain
The angels of the world unknown brought glad tidings
That all in this living world sorrowful shall not remain
The amorous gestures of dawn gave the good news
That one in the hands of sadness shall not remain
Hafez of love’s kindness don’t disregard hope
As the tyrannous acts and signs of oppression shall not remain
*Jamshid is the name of a Persian mythical legendary king. Jam means shining and shid means sun so Jamshid means shining sun.
II
From my head love of the dark eyed will not go
This is the heavens’ decree and another way it will not be
The rival tormented, left no room for peace
Perhaps moving heavenwards the sigh of early risers will not be
From the first day I was ordered to be nothing but insightful
Wherever I go more than that it will not be
For God’s sake Mohtasib* pardon the clamour of drum and reed
As the instrument of ritual from this tale lowly will not be
A safe abode, a kind barmaid and ruby wine
O heart when will you feel better if now it will not be?
My only chance is to secretly love her
How can I talk of her embrace, bosoms and kiss as this will not be
O my eyes do not wash the sorrow from Hafez’s heart
As it is a cut from the lover’s blade and the colour of blood it will not be
*Mohtasib is the title of the city’s sheriff.
III
Every vision’s sun may your beauty be
Lovelier than beauties, may your lovely face be
The charm of your tresses like the falcon’s beam
May the heart of kings of the world beneath its wing be
May anyone who is not tied to your tresses
Like your tresses tangled be
O idol when your glance throws an arrow
Against it may my injured heart a shield be
As your sweet ruby lips give a kiss
From it may the taste of my life sweet be
Because of you every moment I am in love anew
Every hour yours another merit be
Hafez is desirous of your beauty with his life
On the state of all your suitors may your glance be
IV
I have felt the pain of love
Don’t ask me how
I have tasted the poison of separation
Don’t ask me how
I have travelled the world and finally have chosen a lover
Don’t ask me how
For the dust of her abode, I have cried my eyes out so
Don’t ask me how
Why do friends bite their lips, do not say
I have chosen ruby lips
Don’t ask me how
I heard her with my own ears last night
I heard such words
Don’t ask me how
Like Hafez, a stranger in the path of love
I have reached such a status
Don’t ask me how
V
If from your musky tresses a fault passed, it passed
And if from your dark mole a cruelty passed, it passed
If love’s lightening the harvest of a wool clad man consumed, it consumed
If injustices of a king against a beggar passed, it passed
If a heart from the amorous gestures of a lover a load carried, it carried
And if between the lovers a story passed, it passed
From the gossip mongers much hurt was caused but
As when between companions an insult passed, it passed
In your ways there is no heart ache, bring the lover’s wine
Every hurt feeling like all purities passed, it passed
O heart for love making, endurance is a must remember
If there was a heartache, it was. If a mistake passed, it passed
O preacher do not censure Hafez, he has left the cloister
How can you tie the feet of the free, if somewhere it passed, it passed
©Farzan Radfar 2026 ©Hassan Shabani 2026
