We Come Here Seeking Refuge

We haven't traveled to this door
For wealth or mastery,
We come here seeking refuge from
Misfortune's misery.

And we have journeyed all this way,
Fleeing the confines of
Our Nothingness to seek out Being
Along the path of love;

From heaven's orchards we have seen
The springtime of your face,
We traveled here from paradise
To seek this herb of grace--

For all the treasures of Gabriel
Kept in store for us there,
We've traveled to our Sovereign's door
Like beggars in despair.

O Holy Ship of Blessings, where
Is Your strong anchor found?
In sinfulness, within this sea
Of mercy, we are drowned!

Our good name's gone...cover our sins,
Kind Cloud of Grace--we bring
A blackened record with us to
The precincts of our King.

Hafez, cast off this Sufi cloak
And all it signifies--
We've followed here the camel-train
With ardent, fiery sighs.

[Tr. Dick Davis].