Do not praise the graceful box-tree in front of me, for I am captivated by that beloved who possesses a cypress-like stature.
In this couplet, the lover gently asks his companion to stop praising the grace of the box-tree (shamshad), because his heart is already thoroughly captivated by his cypress-statured (sarv-qad) beloved. Both trees are celebrated in classical poetry for their upright poise, but the cypress reigns supreme as the ultimate metaphor for towering, elegant beauty. It is a sweet declaration of single-minded devotion—once your eyes are enchanted by the one you adore, all the rest of nature's charms simply fade into the background.
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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