Ode 44

Last night, as half asleep I dreaming lay,

    Half naked came she in her little shift,

         With tilted glass, and verses on her lips;

Narcissus-eyes all shining for the fray,

         Filled full of frolic to her wine-red lips,

         Warm as a dewy rose, sudden she slips

    Into my bed – just in her little shift.

Said she, half naked, half asleep, half heard,

With a soft sigh betwixt each lazy word,

‘Oh my old lover, do you sleep or wake!’

And instant I sat upright for her sake,

And drank whatever wine she poured for me –

Wine of the tavern, or vintage it might be

Of Heaven’s own vine: he surely were a churl

Who refused wine poured out by such a girl,

A double traitor he to wine and love.

Go to, thou puritan! the gods above

Ordained this wine for us, but not for thee;

Drunkards we are by a divine decree,

Yea, by the special privilege of heaven

Foredoomed to drink and foreordained forgiven.

Ah! HAFIZ, you are not the only man

    Who promised penitence and broke down after;

For who can keep so hard a promise, man,

    With wine and woman brimming o’er with laughter!

O knotted locks, filled like a flower with scent,

How have you ravished this poor penitent!