This is not a serpent, but merely the reflection of unfastened hair; where are you running away leaving the mirror and the comb behind?
In this wonderfully playful couplet, the poet paints a vivid scene around the beloved's dark, untamed tresses. Seeing the reflection of those wavy locks in the mirror, someone mistakes them for a dangerous serpent ('af'ee') and bolts in sheer panic, abandoning the mirror and comb. It's a charming celebration of beauty so captivating and intense that even its mere shadow feels perilously alive.
Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.
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