The sun once glimpsed God's true nature
This poem by Hafiz uses the metaphor of the sun glimpsing God's true nature to illustrate a profound spiritual truth. The sun, having seen the divine, is forever changed and continuously gives its energy to the earth, much like God who provides from behind a veil. Hafiz questions why, with such a magnificent God, people aren't constantly overwhelmed with joy. He suggests that the reason lies in human judgment — the belief that one is superior or inferior to others disrupts spiritual joy, symbolized by the breaking of a wine glass. This imagery reflects the fragility of spiritual enlightenment and the ease with which it can be shattered by ego and comparison.
| Word | In English | Plain (English) | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| glimpsed | saw briefly | noticed briefly | glimpsed |
| radiant | shining brightly | shiny and bright | ray-dee-uhnt |
| sphere | round object | round shape | sfeer |
| veil | covering | thin cover | vayl |
| screaming drunk | wildly joyful | very happy | skree-ming druhngk |
| guess | opinion | a simple thought | ges |
| thought | idea | an idea | thawt |
| breaks | shatters | makes it fall apart | brayks |
| wine glass | drinking cup | a cup for wine | wahyn glas |
Hafiz, also known as Hafez, was a Persian poet who lived in the 14th century. He is one of the most celebrated writers of Persian literature and is known for his ghazals, which express the ecstasy of divine inspiration and love. His work has been influential in both Eastern and Western literary traditions.
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