As if that German commercial of the Turkish family cooking for their sullen German neighbor (redundant? “sullen German”?) didn’t pull enough heartstrings, the family’s son, who has the idea of approaching the old man, is a knock-out.
Makes one think of Hafez. Yes, I know this particular poem is quoted to death, but it’s one of the first that really grabbed me when I first discovered Persian poetry:
1.
اگر آن ترک شیرازی به دست آرد دل ما را به خال هندویش بخشم سمرقند و بخارا را
‘agar ‘ān Tork-e Šīrāzī * be dast ārad del-ē mā-rābe xāl-ē Hendu-yaš baxšam Samarqand ō Boxārā-rā
If that Shirazi Turk accepts my heart in their hand, for their Indian mole I will give Samarkand and Bukhara.
2.
بده ساقی می باقی که در جنت نخواهی یافت کنار آب رکن آباد و گلگشت مصلا را
bedeh, sāqī, mey-ē bāqī ke dar jannat naxāhī yāftkenār-ē āb-e Roknābād o golgašt-ē Mosallā-rā
Wine-pourer, give the rest of wine, since in heaven you will not find the banks of the water of Roknabad and the rose-walk of Mosalla.
3.
فغان کاین لولیان شوخ شیرین کار شهرآشوب چنان بردند صبر از دل که ترکان خوان یغما را
faqān k-īn lūliyān-ē šūx -e šīrīnkār-e šahrāšūbčonān bordānd sabr az del ke Torkān xān-e yaqmā-rā
Alas for these mischievous gypsies who do sweet things and make the town riot! they have stolen the patience from my heart like Turks at a banquet of plunder.
4.
ز عشق ناتمام ما جمال یار مستغنی است به آب و رنگ و خال و خط چه حاجت روی زیبا را
ze ‘ešq-ē nātamām-ē mā jamāl-ē yār mostaqnī-stbe āb ō rang o xāl ō xat če hājat rūy-e zībā-rā?
Of our imperfect love the glory of the beloved is independent; what need does a beautiful face have for powder and colour and mole and line?
5.
من از آن حسن روزافزون که یوسف داشت دانستم که عشق از پرده عصمت برون آرد زلیخا را
man az ‘ān hosn-e rūz-afzūn ke Yūsof dāšt dānestamke ‘ešq az parde-yē ‘esmat borūn ārad Zoleyxā-rā
I have learnt, from that daily-increasing beauty that Joseph had, that Love will bring Zoleykha out from behind the curtain of modesty.
6.
اگر دشنام فرمایی و گر نفرین دعا گویم جواب تلخ میزیبد لب لعل شکرخا را
agar došnām farmā’ī * v-agar nefrīn do’ā gūyamjavāb-ē talx mīzībad * lab-ē la’l-ē šekarxā-rā
Even if you speak harshly, and even if you curse me, I am grateful; a bitter answer beautifies a ruby-red sugar-chewing lip.
7.
نصیحت گوش کن جانا که از جان دوستتر دارند جوانان سعادتمند پند پیر دانا را
nasīhat gūš kon, jānā, ke ‘az jān dūst-tar dārandjavānān-ē sa’ādatmand pand-ē pīr-e dānā-rā
Listen to advice, my soul, since even more valuable than their soul youths who seek happiness hold the advice of a knowledgeable elder.
8.
حدیث از مطرب و می گو و راز دهر کمتر جو که کس نگشود و نگشاید به حکمت این معما را
hadīs az motreb-ō mey gū * vo rāz-ē dahr kamtar jūke kas nagšūd o nagšāyad * be hekmat ‘īn mo’ammā-rā
Tell a tale of minstrel and wine, and seek the secret of time less, since no one has ever solved or will ever solve this riddle with wisdom.
9.
غزل گفتی و در سفتی بیا و خوش بخوان حافظ که بر نظم تو افشاند فلک عقد ثریا را
qazal goftī o dor softī * biyā vō xoš bexān, Hāfezke bar nazm-ē to afšānad * falak ‘egd-ē Sorayyā-rā
You have completed your poem and pierced the pearl; come and sing beautifully, Hafez, that on your compositions Heaven may scatter the necklace of the Pleiades.
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Jadde: from Bosnia to Bengal 
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