‘Oh! that I had you yet but for five minutes beside me, to tell you all’. It is considered as one of the saddest line ever written in English Literature. It was penned by Thomas Carlyle. Only when we come to know about the circumstance under which he wrote this line would we comprehend its sheer power and the deep feeling it inflicts on us. He wrote it after the unexpected demise of his wife. It is said that while she was alive he could not care or love her aptly. He might not have done so quite intentionally. His hectic schedule might have been the only reason. Whatever it might be, his wife’s death shook him thoroughly. The birth of this sentence is from that sorrow, that frustration and the feeling of guilt.
This sentence says a lot of things. Most often we don’t realize the value of persons around us, especially when they are alive. He/she may be your father, mother, wife, husband, friend or anybody else. We think that time is aplenty before us to love and give them care. Sometimes differences of opinion may widen the gap between two persons. Poor educational background or lack of knowledge of certain other people may prompt us to keep away from them. Count on the number of people being get rid of by us unnecessarily. Introspect whether you have denied your love which others rightfully deserve. Once they are no more you would realize the value of them, the true love they had had for you and the vacuum created by their death. So it is not late. Whoever are with us let us love them a bit more and become compassionate to them. Even while you are too busy, find some time to spend with them. Don’t forget that even five minutes is also very precious.
Regards
Prof Antoney P Joseph
