Hafez
Hafez was a 14th-Century Iranian poet
By Bänoo Zan
I stood at the gates—
The Roknabad Stream murmured through
Mosalla Gardens[1]
Roses scattered the morning breeze
The sea kissed the boat
and waved at the palace
The king smiled at sycophant ghazals[2]
I was the bard—
the blood of the city—
the breath of God—
Centuries later they would say
that I loved Shiraz[3]
But I feared tempests
and remained true to the past
Open my book
and read your future
[1] The Roknabad Stream and Mosalla Gardens were popular outings during Hafez’ times
[2] An Arabic/Persian poetic form.
[3] A city in Iran
First published in: Verse Afire: A Tri-Annual Publication of the Ontario Poetry Society, Editor John Di Leonardo, Publisher I.B. Iskov, I.S.S.N. 1715-0280, January-April 2016, Vol. 1
