In the Sixteenth Discourse of Jami's Haft Awrang, the poet admonishes the young who, deceived by the pride of black hair, scorn the white-haired elderly. He warns against relying on the means of youth (تکیه بر اسباب جوانی مکن) and against expending all one's power simply because one can. Physical might is shown to be worthless before mortality: even if the arm is like iron and the skin like armor (جوشن), the hand of death (دست اجل) turns that iron to wax and the sword of fate (تیغ قضا) rends the armor. As great strength wanes, even an arrow-straight stature bends like a bow. The passage develops the discourse's central Sufi warning that youthful vitality is a fleeting deception and that no bodily strength can resist death.