Philosopher's stone

"Philospher's stone" - however the literal translation from Bengali is "touchstone" or "Parash pathor". It another one of Tagore's gems and possibly my favorite.

It is a long poem - too long to translate here so a summary perhaps ? " the lunatic keeps looking for the touchstone - he is dirty, wearing threadbare clothes - no home , no family - has only but pride - he does not want any riches but keeps looking for the stone.

In front is the ocean - the waves keep crashing on the shore - the rising sun, moon and the falling rain - all speak of this treasure but only the one who understands will have it .People come and go and laugh and cry - the lunatic is oblivious still looking for that elusive stone.

Then one day some village boy asks the lunatic why is he wearing the gold chain and the lunatic realizes that somehow he had the stone but he threw it away thinking it is a pebble because he is foolish and did not know what it was- so he starts his search again - begins the endless journey to find it again".

To me this speaks of - precious ones that we keep throwing aside in search of the one that will make us the happiest and somehow when that moment arrives - that gets thrown away or pushed aside and we spend out lives looking for that elusive stone .