An omen from Hafez

Ghazal 100

Yesterday the wine-selling Elder — may his name be blessed —

said: 'Drink the wine, and bear the heart's grief clean out of memory.'

I said: 'But wine gives up my name and honour to the wind.'

He said: 'Take the counsel, and let come whatever may come.'

Since gain and loss and capital must all slip from the hand,

for the sake of this trafficking, be neither grieved nor glad.

Wind is all you shall hold in your hand, if you set your heart on nothing,

in an arena where the throne of Solomon itself goes to the wind.

O Hafez, if you are wearied of the counsel of the wise,

let us cut the story short — and may your life be long.

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