17
A friend is a mirror to a friend
Textbook: Part 2, pp. 11–15
GoalExplain the metaphor “a friend is a mirror”; find rhyming words in a poem.
New words
sincere · samimiyfriendship · do‘stlikmirror, window · oynaadvice · maslahat
Explanation
The textbook has the poem “Do‘st do‘stga oyna” (A friend is a mirror to a friend) by Quddus Muhammadiy, about friendship, unity and mutual understanding. We do not retell it. What do we understand by “a friend is a mirror”? A mirror shows a person himself; a true friend, too, sincerely shows our good sides and faults and helps us improve. This is a figurative meaning. In poems and in life friendship becomes strong through shared work and help.
Worked examples
“Sincere advice”. Madina kept her writing notebook untidily. Her friend Sevara said without hurting her: “Your letters are very beautiful, only they go off the line. Shall we practise together on lined paper?” At first Madina blushed, then thanked her. For a month they wrote together for five minutes every day. Madina’s notebook became much neater.
Rhyme examples: bahor – intizor (spring – eager), yurak – tilak (heart – wish), mehr – sehr (kindness – magic). (Find your own!)
Class activity
“Mirror game”: in pairs one child moves and the partner copies exactly, like a mirror; then they swap and each says one sentence about friendship.
Practice
1
What fault did Madina have?
Her notebook was untidy; letters went off the line.
2
How did Sevara give the advice?
Praising first, without hurting
3
What did the girls do together?
They wrote together five minutes every day.
4
What was the result?
The notebook became much neater.
5
Explain the “friend is a mirror” comparison in your own words.
A friend shows our good and bad sides and helps us improve.