SUCH a consideration comes only rarely and only to those souls with a capacity to detach themselves from silly trappings of life! Of course, Gurudev Tagore was one of those elevated souls that walked on this Earth!

Let us not miss the poetry of this simple statement. Let us go beyond standard definitions that often govern our thinking. Let us delve deeper into what it actually means. ‘Yes, clouds do float into my life every now and then -- at any time of the day or night, assuming different shapes and sizes and even colours. Some look so loaded down with water, while some make so much of a frightening thunder. And that is how I have learned to look at clouds -- traditionally, habitually.

 

 

‘But life has taught me that all clouds really do not carry rain or bring in storm. But they are still there. As I look at those, I do realise that those clouds -- beyond the standard trappings of my understanding -- have their own colour, and they also add colour to the sky, my sunset sky, very enjoyably, very invitingly,’ the poet seems to suggest. Such a sensitive thought emerges only from an extraordinary mind, though. This mind has the capacity to detach self from the trappings of common understanding of how the clouds are, but also has the ability to indulge in interpreting the poetic metaphor of clouds that carry no rain or usher no storm, but add colour to the sunset sky.

 

‘Sunset sky’ has multiple meanings, of course. One suggests the day’s end, marked by setting sun. The other suggests, possibly, the end of life’s innings. At this stage -- of the day or of life -- the poet has positioned self in a rare vantage point from where he -- or she -- can enjoy the colours the clouds add to the scenario -- of the day or of life in an indulgent manner. But he -- or she -- also has evolved into a happy detachment from mortal trappings of life to be able to notice details that otherwise may afflict others.

 

This is certainly an elevated,spiritually-enriched condition of being. Such a mind may say, in effect: ‘Life may have brought in its own rain and storm. I have endured those all along. I have fought those clouds and won -- or even lost -- the fight. In those actual moments under the cloudy overhang, I might have been affected by life’s vagaries and viciousness. But those times are now over, and I have evolved into a calmer soul. Now, I can realise the difference between clouds. Now I realise that some clouds bring different colours to the sky -- my mental sky in dying times of innings, my sunset sky -- and I am in a position to notice their colours despite life’s traumas and tragedies. Now, I am in a position to say ‘thanks’ to those clouds that can add colour to my moments.’

Howsoever easy this may seem to be said in words, it is very rare that one can evolve into such a soul with the dual capacity -- of detached outlook, and a parallel indulgence in beauty life offers.