An omen from Hafez
Ghazal 179
Glad tidings came: the days of grief will not remain for long;
as that endured not, so will this endure not either.
Though in the beloved's eyes I have become despised and low,
the rival too, thus honoured now, will not remain for long.
Since the veil-keeper strikes at all alike with his drawn sword,
not one soul will remain a dweller in the sanctuary's precinct.
What room is there for thanks or plaint at the mark of good and ill,
when on the scroll of very being no writing will remain?
They say the song of Jamshid's feast ran ever in this wise:
'Bring here the cup of wine, for Jamshid too will not remain.'
Count it a prize, O candle of the moth's brief hour of union,
for this affair will not remain until the break of dawn.
O wealthy one, go win the heart of your own poor dervish now,
for the vault of gold and the hoard of silver coin will not remain.
Upon this vault of chrysolite they have written it in gold:
'Naught will remain at last but the goodness of the generous.'
Cut not away your hope of the Friend's own tenderness, Hafez,
for the mark of tyranny and the sign of cruelty will not remain.