by Hafis (c1327 - 1390), as Hafez
Translation by Jonathan Holmes
Our embraces are a banquet of revolving time
Language: English after the Persian (Farsi)
Think how the cypress measures the breeze, Bending an ’n‘ before it. And so we reckon our love, Stooping to sup from the red-rimmed cup. The sun is a candle to the fire in my breast. A rose between your breasts, Wine in our bowl, My love in your heart, At such a dawn The Sultan of the world is slave to me Living like a kiss at the border of inside and outside. Our embraces are a banquet of revolving time.
Text Authorship:
Based on:
- a text in Persian (Farsi) by Hafis (c1327 - 1390), as Hafez [text unavailable]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Liza Lim (b. 1966), "Our embraces are a banquet of revolving time", 2011, first performed 2011 [ baritone and piano ], from Tongue of the Invisible, no. 8 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-02-14
Line count: 12
Word count: 82