An omen from Hafez
Ghazal 396
It is dawn, O cupbearer — brim a goblet with wine;
the wheel of heaven brooks no delay: make haste, make haste.
Before this perishing world falls into ruin,
undo us, ruin us with the cup of rose-red wine.
The sun of wine has risen from the goblet's east;
if you would harvest joy, forsake the ease of sleep.
The day the sphere shapes jugs and pitchers of our clay,
take heed — then brim the hollow of our skull with wine.
We are no men of abstinence, of vows, of pious cant;
so speak to us in the language of the limpid cup.
Wine-worship, Hafez, is the one right work of all;
rise up, and set your fixed resolve upon that work.