Shahr Khāli - شهر خالی
شهر خالی، جادّه خالی، کوچه خالی، خانه خالی
Cities empty, roads empty,
streets empty, homes empty
Goblets empty, dinner tables empty,
cups and measures empty
Our friends, our nightingales have migrated flock by flock
Orchards empty, gardens empty,
branches empty, nests empty
Oh, woe to the world where lovers fear one another
Where thirsty buds fear gardens
Where lovers fear the sound of union
Where hands of musicians fear instruments
Where the chevaliers fear flat roads
Where doctors fear the sight of patients
Songs were smashed and
the poets’ torment reached all bounds
Years of await passed in agony for you and I
Friends turned into strangers
As soon as I gave my hand,
my life became a barren land
I weeped and I wailed,
I knocked on every door
I poured upon my head
the dust and mire of this ruined shelter bit by bit
Yet the world went on as usual, no one cared
Woe to those feet that walk onto the enemy’s path
Woe to those who lose their honor
in service of the oppressor
Musicians too have tuned their instruments to oppression
Lo! How the tyrant’s hand is hailing upon us
The fountains dried up, the seas turned weary
The heavens took our legend lightly
Drinks have lost potency,
love has no bosom to embrace thee
Not a single soul hears out my lament, hears me
Come back so that
the gone-away caravan would too come back
Come back so that
the tender sweethearts would come back tenderly
Come back so that they all would come back,
the minstrel, the music, the mandolin
Spread your forelock for
your gracious sweetheart is coming back
Come back so that we may bow before Hafiz
Spreading flowers and filling our cups with wine
