My Sincere Mirror

True friends will swing the twin-sword of praise and criticize and will reflect for us our merits and faults- writes Mujeeb Jaihoon

O Dream-Dear
A truth may I slowly reveal
For, His Fear in your heart
Is sans any veil

A friend to another
Is like a sincere mirror
When good: admires
When errs: censures

When adorably full
Is the heavenly moon,
‘You are indeed beautiful’
Testifies the the earthly waters

But as the fragrant Rose
Loses its soulful scent
The Nightingale boldly utters
“Your bad ways better amend”

Such a mirror
Will continue to reflect
Even if into pieces
Thousands you break

A true friend’s trust
Will not easily shake
Unlike a stone which creates
Faithless ripples in a lake

In times of anger:
One may point the finger
But it does not ever mean
Hatred shall forever remain

The duty of a sincere friend
Is to make the other realize
By swinging the double-sword
Of praise and criticize

For now,
Let me lay aside
The talk of the lake,
The Moon and the Rose

When in the mirror
I have a peek
Your presence is
What I earnestly seek

Many shower upon
This Nightingale
The heartless garland
Of honey-talk

But these spells
Are of no gain
When weighed against
Your sincere blame

March 03, 2003. Edit Jan 10 2022