Can a spring dry up and become a mirage in such a way? I believe it must have been affected by the intense gaze of some thirsty individual.

This couplet paints a poignant picture of a spring that has dried up, leaving behind only the illusion of water, a mirage. The poet wonders how a real, flowing spring could transform into such a deceptive sight. The explanation offered is deeply evocative: perhaps it was the intense longing, the burning gaze of a truly thirsty soul, that 'affected' the spring, causing it to vanish and leave behind only a cruel illusion. It speaks to how powerful desire or need can sometimes feel almost supernatural, capable of altering reality, turning hope into an unreachable dream. It's a beautiful reflection on loss and the profound impact of human yearning.