In this poem, Attar addresses the candle as an emblem of self-destruction driven by its own obstinacy or pride ('sar-gereftegi'). By holding its head (its wick) to the burning fire, the candle acts as its own enemy, bringing about its own demise. In Sufi mystical terms, this metaphor represents the inevitable self-destruction of the ego or headstrong selfhood when confronted with the divine fire of love, illustrating that maintaining one's ego ('sar-gereftegi') leads to self-inflicted spiritual demise.