Haqeeqat-e-Husn

The Reality of Beauty

To God one day, did Beauty ask aloud, "Why was I not with endless life endowed?"

The answer came: "This world's a hall of sight, A tale told from non-being's endless night.

When from the hue of constant change it's made, True beauty is a thing that has to fade."

The Moon, who lingered near, had heard this word, And soon the Morning Star had also heard.

The Dawn, from that same star, then told the Dew, The one who all of Earth's deep secrets knew.

The flower's eyes then filled with tears of dew, The small bud's heart, in grief, bled through and through.

Weeping, from the garden Spring did turn, And Youth, who came to revel, stayed to mourn.