Come, let us scatter roses and pour wine into the cup; let us split the roof of the sky and lay down a new design.
بیا تا گل برافشانیم و می در ساغر اندازیم / فلک را سقف بشکافیم و طرحی نو دراندازیم
Biyâ tâ gül ber-efşânîm ü mey der sâgar endâzîm / Felek râ sakf beşkâfîm ü tarhî nev der-endâzîm
Hafez, Divan, ghazal 374 (Ganjoor numbering).
Come, says Hafez.
Let us scatter roses.
Then the sentence grows.
Let us split the roof of the sky,
let us lay down a new design.
Joy here is not something awaited.
It is something built.
Even if sorrow gathers an army,
there is someone who says come.
Gladness, too, is a decision.
The materials are in your hands.
It falls to you to rise and begin.