Wisdom in Words

When Love Turns Difficult: Hafez’s Iconic Ghazal

Introduction

Among Hafez’s most celebrated works is the ghazal beginning with the famous line:

“O Saki, pass the cup around, for love seemed easy at first, but later difficulties arose.”

This opening has become one of the most quoted lines in Persian literature. It reflects the essence of Hafez’s poetry: a mixture of beauty, longing, hardship, and mystical truth.

The Poem

In this ghazal, Hafez begins by calling on the saki (the cupbearer), a symbolic figure who offers wine. But the wine here is more than a drink; it represents spiritual awakening, divine love, and the intoxication of beauty.

The poet admits that love appears simple at first glance, but once a person commits, the path becomes full of challenges. Love, in Hafez’s view, is both a blessing and a test.

Analysis

This ghazal explores the paradox of love: it is sweet and desirable, yet also painful and demanding.

• The Cup and the Wine: Symbols of divine wisdom and ecstatic joy. Drinking means surrendering to love and truth.

• The Saki: Represents the guide or beloved who helps the seeker move closer to spiritual truth.

• Difficulties of Love: Hafez reminds us that the deeper one goes into love, the more trials appear. This struggle is not a punishment, but a path to growth.

Relevance Today

Centuries later, Hafez’s insight remains universal. We all begin journeys—whether in love, career, or self-discovery—that seem simple at the start. Only later do we realize the effort, patience, and resilience required.

Hafez’s poem teaches us that hardship does not diminish love’s value. Instead, it enriches it. The beauty of love lies not only in its joy, but also in the challenges that shape us.

Conclusion

This timeless ghazal of Hafez reminds us that life’s most precious gifts are never easy. Just as wine intoxicates both body and spirit, love shakes us, tests us, and ultimately elevates us. The journey may be difficult, but it is also the path to truth and transformation.