In Chapter 24, Poem 36 of Attar's Mokhtar Nameh, the poet reflects on human mortality and the ancient history of the world. The poem metaphorically portrays the earth as being composed of the dust of previous generations (the 'old and the young'). By warning against spilling a draught on the 'mouth of the earth,' Attar emphasizes that the soil itself was once the physical forms (like mouths) of people who lived before. This vivid imagery urges the reader to recognize the transience of life and to view the physical world with a sense of humility and reverence for the departed.