WHAT drunkenness is this that brings me hope-- <br />Who was the Cup-bearer, and whence the wine? <br />That minstrel singing with full voice divine, <br />What lay was his? for 'mid the woven rope <br />Of song, he brought word from my Friend to me <br />Set to his melody. <br /> <br />The wind itself bore joy to Solomon; <br />The Lapwing flew from Sheba's garden close, <br />Bringing good tidings of its queen and rose. <br />Take thou the cup and go where meadows span <br />The plain, whither the bird with tuneful throat <br />Has brought Spring's sweeter note. <br /> <br />Welcome, oh rose, and full-blown eglantine! <br />The violets their scented gladness fling, <br />Jasmin breathes purity-art sorrowing <br />Like an unopened bud, oh heart of mine? <br />The wind of dawn that sets closed blossoms free <br />Brings its warm airs to thee. <br /> <br />Saki, thy kiss shall still my bitter cry! <br />Lift up your grief-bowed heads, all ye that weep, <br />The Healer brings joy's wine-cup--oh, drink deep! <br />Disciple of the Tavern-priest am I; <br />The pious Sheikh may promise future bliss, <br />He brings me where joy is. <br /> <br />The greedy glances of a Tartar horde <br />To me seemed kind--my foeman spared me not <br />Though one poor robe was all that I had got. <br />But Heaven served Hafiz, as a slave his lord, <br />And when he fled through regions desolate, <br />Heaven brought him to thy gate.<br /><br />Shams al-Din Hafiz Shirazi<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/brings-me-hope/
