An omen from Hafez
Ghazal 476
O breeze of the morning of felicity, by that sign which you know,
pass by a certain one's lane, at that hour which you know.
You are the courier of the secret's seclusion, and eyes wait upon your road;
by kindness, not by command, go in such a way as you know.
Say: “My precious soul has slipped from my hand — for God's sake,
of her soul-reviving ruby lip bestow that which you know.”
I wrote these lines in such a way that the stranger did not know;
you too, out of your graciousness, read them in such a way as you know.
The fancy of your sword, with us, is the tale of the thirsty and the water;
you have taken your own captive — slay him in such a way as you know.
How shall I fasten hope upon your gold-woven belt?
There is a subtlety, O idol, in that waist which you know.
Turkish and Arabic are one in this dealing, Hafez;
set forth the discourse of love in that tongue which you know.