Poems & Poets

This poem is authored by Khwāje Shams-od-Dīn Muḥammad Hāfez-e Shīrāzī (Persian: خواجه شمس‌‌الدین محمد حافظ شیرازی‎; 1315 – 1390). Hāfez is the most recited poet in contemporary Iran. However, during his life he was not well known and is said to have never left his hometown of Shirāz. Given this lack of fame, there is little authenticated biographical information available on Hāfez. He lived during a time in which Shirāz was being seized by different rulers, including Timur the Lame. His work is predominantly concerned with extolling the transcendent beauties of this world, and as such he criticises pretentious, hypocritical and intolerant 'religious' folk of Shiraz. His personality remains a mystery until today and one will hear his poems being recited in religious, spiritual and secular contexts.

This ghazal is a poem of advice. It urges the addressee to seek the path of 'the people of the way', in order to gain true enlightenment and proximity to God, Mighty and Majestic is He. Trekking this path is no easy thing, involving the 'turning upside down' of one's sense of self. However, Hafez promises that this striving will allow the wayfarer to eventually 'strike gold'. Ultimately, Hafez insists that one has to become the 'dirt' on the doorway of 'the people of discipline' if one truly seeks to achieve proximity and re-union with God, Glorified and Exalted is He.

Reference: Hafez – Ghazaliat – Ghazal 487.