Hafiz’s timeless sonnet Gham Makhor (Do Not Grieve) is a poetic masterpiece filled with hope, resilience, and divine wisdom. In this beautifully composed verse, Hafiz reassures the reader that hardships are temporary, and the tides of fate constantly change. Through symbolic imagery—such as the return of Joseph to Canaan, the transformation of sorrow into joy, and the guidance of Noah through the storm—he conveys a universal message of patience and trust in the unseen. Below, you will find the full poem in Persian, accompanied by its English translation and phonetic transcription, allowing readers of all backgrounds to appreciate its profound beauty and meaning.
Video of Do Not Grive; A Hafiz’s Sonnet
Do Not Grieve; A Sonnet by Hafiz Shirazi
یوسفِ گم گشته بازآید به کنعان، غم مخور
/Yusef-e gom-gashteh bāz āyad be Kanʿān, gham makhor/
The lost Joseph shall return to Canaan, do not grieve.
کلبهٔ احزان شَوَد روزی گلستان، غم مخور
/Kolbeh-ye ahzān shavad rozi golestān, gham makhor/
The hut of sorrows will one day turn into a rose garden, do not grieve.
ای دل غمدیده، حالت بِه شود، دل بَد مکن
/Ey del-e ghamdideh, hālat beh shavad, del bad makon/
O grief-stricken heart, your state will improve, do not despair.
وین سرِ شوریده باز آید به سامان غم مخور
/Vin sar-e shurideh bāz āyad be sāmān, gham makhor/
This disordered head will be restored to order, do not grieve.
گر بهارِ عمر باشد باز بر تختِ چمن
/Gar bahār-e omr bāshad bāz bar takht-e chaman/
If the spring of life returns, you will reign on the lawn again.
چتر گل در سر کَشی، ای مرغِ خوشخوان غم مخور
/Chatre gol dar sar kashi, ey morghe khoshkhān, gham makhor/
You will raise a canopy of flowers, O sweet-singing bird, do not grieve.
دورِ گردون گر دو روزی بر مرادِ ما نرفت
/Dowr-e gardoon gar do roozi bar morād-e mā naraf/
If the heavens do not turn to our desires for a while, do not grieve.
دائماً یکسان نباشد حالِ دوران غم مخور
/Dā’emān yeksān nabāshad hāl-e dowrān, gham makhor/
The state of time is never constant, do not grieve.
هان مَشو نومید چون واقِف نِه‌ای از سِرِّ غیب
/Hān masho noomid, chun vāqef neh-i az serr-e gheyb/
Do not despair, for you are unaware of the secrets of the unseen.
باشد اندر پرده بازی هایِ پنهان غم مخور
Bāshad andar parde bāzi-hā-ye penhān, gham makhor
Hidden behind the curtain are concealed plays, do not grieve.
ای دل اَر سیلِ فنا بنیادِ هستی بَرکَنَد
/Ey del ar seyl-e fanā bonyād-e hasti barkanad/
O heart, if the flood of annihilation destroys existence, do not grieve.
چون تو را نوح است کشتیبان، ز طوفان غم مخور
/Chon to rā Nuh ast keshtibān, ze toofān gham makhor/
Since Noah is your captain, do not fear the storm, do not grieve.
در بیابان گر به شوقِ کعبه خواهی زد قدم
/Dar biābān gar be shogh-e Ka’be khāhi zad ghadam/
In the desert, if you take a step with longing for the Kaaba, do not grieve.
سرزنش‌ها گر کُنَد خارِ مُغیلان غم مخور
/Sarzanesha gar konad khār-e moghilan, gham makhor/
If the thorny bushes reproach you, do not grieve.
گرچه منزل بس خطرناک است و مقصد بس بعید
/Garche manzel bas khatarnāk ast o maqsad bas ba’id/
Although the destination is dangerous and the goal is far, do not grieve.
هیچ راهی نیست کآن را نیست پایان، غم مخور
/Hich rāhi nist ke ān rā nist pāyān, gham makhor/
No path is without an end, do not grieve.
حال ما در فُرقت جانان و اِبرامِ رقیب
/Hāl-e mā dar forghat-e jānān o ebrām-e raqib/
Our state in separation from the beloved and the rival’s insistence.
جمله می‌داند خدایِ حالْ‌گردان غم مخور
/Jomle mi-dānad khodā-ye hāl-gardān, gham makhor/
God, who changes conditions, knows all, do not grieve.
حافظا در کُنجِ فقر و خلوتِ شب هایِ تار
/Hāfezā dar konj-e faqr o khalvat-e shabhā-ye tār/
O Hafez, in the corner of poverty and the solitude of dark nights.
تا بُوَد وِردَت دعا و درس قرآن غم مخور
/Tā bovad verdat do’ā va dars-e Qor’ān, gham makhor/
As long as your chant is prayer and the study of the Quran, do not grieve.
The Message of Hope and Resilience
Hafiz’s Gham Makhor is a powerful reminder that no hardship lasts forever. Throughout the poem, he reassures the reader that sorrow and suffering are fleeting, much like the ever-changing seasons. By referencing the story of Joseph, who endured years of separation and adversity before being reunited with his loved ones, Hafiz emphasizes the importance of patience and faith. He encourages us to see beyond temporary struggles, reminding us that even the darkest nights eventually give way to the dawn.
Symbolism and Spiritual Wisdom
The imagery in this sonnet is rich with spiritual symbolism. Hafiz likens life’s difficulties to storms, deserts, and thorny paths, yet he reassures the reader that guidance and salvation are always within reach. The mention of Noah as a protector in turbulent waters suggests divine support during moments of crisis. Similarly, the reference to the ever-changing nature of time highlights the impermanence of suffering. Through these metaphors, Hafiz offers not only poetic beauty but also profound spiritual wisdom, encouraging his audience to remain steadfast in the face of life’s uncertainties.
