Ghazal 240

Spring winds the March rain clouds feed
Excuse for drinking wine, playing the reed.

Lovers are in full glory, poor me ashamed
Burdened with indigent love, yet I accede.

Shortage of generosity, yet I keep my integrity
Pay with my gown for the wine that I need.

Please say you open up the knot that is in my affairs
Last night till time of dawn, I prayed and plead.

The smiling flower, with a thousand laughs bloomed
As though grace itself had blessed its very seed.

If I rend my shirt in my madness, so what?
Even our good name demands that we be freed.

Who speaks these tales that I tell from your lips?
Who sees your beauty's deceit and misdeed?

If the King seeks not to know of lover's state
Take heed lovers and give up your rest and greed.

Cupid's arrow, Hafiz's heart tore and cleaved
I see his verses, with their wet ink, bleed.