To where I shall return

Interpretation and Meaning of the Verse:

"Do not let them bury me in the earth on the day of my death; Take me to the tavern and lay me beside the wine cask."

Hafez is considered one of the most renowned Persian poets. This verse is one of his literary and mystical masterpieces, where, with a bold and unconventional tone, he presents a unique perspective on death, life, and truth. In these lines, he not only challenges common burial traditions but also reflects his mystical outlook on existence.

Hafez creates a meaningful duality in this verse: the earth, symbolizing decay and worldly sorrow, versus the tavern, representing ecstasy, love, and connection to the ultimate truth. Through this expression, he conveys his desire to be freed from material constraints and seeks a reality beyond rigid traditions.

This verse not only reveals the rebellious and nonconformist spirit of the poet but also highlights his attitude toward life and death. Even in the face of death, Hafez remains devoted to revelry and the joy of existence. In the following sections, we will analyze this verse from various perspectives.

1. Literal Meaning and Structure of the Verse

In the first hemistich, Hafez commands: "Do not let them bury me in the earth on the day of my death," meaning he does not want to be buried in the conventional manner. The word "do not let" (mahal) indicates a firm request or protest.

In the second hemistich, he proposes an alternative: "Take me to the tavern and lay me beside the wine cask." Instead of being buried in the soil, he wishes to be placed in the tavern next to the wine barrel. This semantic contrast carries a profound message: the earth signifies an end and silence, whereas the tavern represents life, liberation, and eternity.

2. Protest Against Conventional Burial Traditions

Death is commonly perceived as a return to the earth. In mystical literature, death is often seen not as an end but as liberation from worldly attachments and a reunion with divine truth. However, Hafez chooses a different path. Rather than accepting the conventional fate, he desires immortality in a space where love, intoxication, and truth flow—the tavern and the wine cask.

In the first hemistich, Hafez subtly critiques the burial tradition that is widespread across various religions and cultures. The Quran, in Surah Taha (20:55), states: "From the earth We created you, and into it We shall return you, and from it We shall bring you forth once more." Yet, Hafez rejects this fate—not out of denial of death, but as a conscious choice. Instead of silence and decay, he opts for liberation and intoxication.

3. The Tavern and the Wine Cask: Symbols of Liberation, Immortality, and Truth

In the second hemistich, Hafez chooses the tavern and the wine cask as his final resting place. But why? This choice can be analyzed from three perspectives:

A) Mystical Perspective: Wine as a Symbol of Divine Truth and Union

In mystical literature, wine represents divine love, enlightenment, and union with the ultimate truth. By wishing to be placed in the wine cask, Hafez expresses his desire to be immersed in eternal truth. In Sufism, "fana" (annihilation) signifies dissolving in the divine essence, while "baqa" (subsistence) denotes eternal existence in that truth. For Hafez, the wine cask is a place where, after annihilation, he attains mystical permanence.

B) Poetic Perspective: Immortality Through Art and Inspiration

The wine cask also symbolizes poetic inspiration. Hafez, whose poetry is filled with passion and beauty, does not want to be buried in the cold, lifeless earth. Instead, he prefers to remain beside the wine cask, which represents the source of inspiration and creativity. Just as wine continuously ferments in its cask, Hafez seeks for his name and poetry to remain alive in people's hearts.

C) Nonconformist Perspective: Freedom and Rejection of Hypocritical Asceticism

Hafez consistently opposed hypocritical asceticism and rigid religious traditions. The tavern and the wine cask symbolize freedom and escape from religious and societal constraints. He does not want to be confined by formal and conventional rites even after death but rather wishes to rest in a place that embodies love, intoxication, and truth.

4. The Contrast Between Earth and Tavern: An End Versus Immortality

This verse presents two contrasting destinies:

• Earth: Symbol of decay, silence, and forgetfulness.

• Tavern: Symbol of eternity, passion, and presence.

Being buried in the soil returns one to nature, but for Hafez, this is not enough. He does not want to disappear in a silent and lifeless graveyard. In contrast, the tavern is a lively, dynamic space where love, intoxication, and truth flourish. The ever-fermenting wine cask represents an unending vitality, unlike the cold, motionless soil.

5. Why Does Hafez Choose This Path?

Throughout his life, Hafez opposed hypocritical piety, rigid traditions, and societal limitations. He often praised love, intoxication, and rebelliousness in his poetry, freeing himself from superficial constraints. This verse continues that perspective even in facing death. He refuses to have his death dictated by official customs. Instead of surrendering to the earth and oblivion, he chooses the tavern to remain in a space that aligns with his identity, beliefs, and ideals.

6. Conclusion: Immortality in the Style of Hafez

This verse showcases the pinnacle of Hafez's free-spirited and nonconformist nature. He views death not as an end but as an opportunity for choice. Rather than being buried like others and forgotten, he desires to remain in the tavern and the wine cask—a place that symbolizes divine love, poetic inspiration, and liberation from worldly constraints.

This outlook is a blend of mysticism, philosophy, and poetry, expressed by Hafez in a simple yet profound manner. He teaches us that even after death, one can exist in truth and beauty and escape the rigid bounds of the world.

In Summary:

Why the Wine Cask?

• Wine in Mysticism: A symbol of divine truth, union with the eternal beloved (God), and persistence after annihilation.

• The Wine Cask: A representation of poetry, art, divine love, and escape from oblivion.

• The Tavern: A sanctuary for rebels and free spirits, as opposed to the monastery, which belongs to formal ascetics.

• Burial in Earth: A symbol of submission to religious and social norms about death.

Why Does Hafez Desire the Tavern Even After Death?

✅ Rejection of Formal and Hypocritical Rites

• A refusal of religious and official ceremonies in death.

• A rejection of ostentatious asceticism and rigid traditions.

✅ Continuation of His Rebellious Spirit Even in Death

• Just as he defied rigid traditions in life, he refuses them in death.

• He prefers the tavern over the grave.

✅ The Tavern as a Place of Truth and Sincerity

• Truth exists in the intoxication of love, not in superficial asceticism.

• The tavern is a refuge for lovers and seekers of truth.

Immortality in Revelry and Ecstasy Versus Oblivion in the Soil

✅ Two Destinies:

• Burial in the Earth: An end, forgetfulness, and returning to nature.

• Resting in the Tavern: Continuity of the soul, immortality, and remaining in the realm of passion and truth.

✅ Why Does Hafez Reject Burial in the Earth?
• The earth is cold and lifeless, a symbol of silence and finality.
• Graveyards are places where the dead are forgotten.
• He refuses to dissolve into the ordinary fate of humankind.

✅ The Wine Cask as a Symbol of Immortality in Three Dimensions

• Mystical Immortality: Becoming one with divine truth and escaping oblivion.

• Poetic Immortality: Living on in the minds and words of people.

• Immortality in Rebellion and Freedom: Rejecting rigid religious traditions.

✅ Why Inside the Wine Cask?
• It is the source of inspiration and the fire of life.
• The poet does not wish to be buried in cold earth but to remain beside his muse.
• It ensures the survival of his poetry and name in people's memories.

✅ Thus, resting in the wine cask means:
• Remaining in the thoughts and language of the people.
• Becoming an eternal poet.
• Escaping oblivion and decay.

🔹 The Tavern vs. The Monastery: Truth vs. Hypocritical Piety.
🔹 Hafez was a free-thinker and rebel in life, so he desires the same path in death.