The lives of others and the humanity of others become clearer as we approach our ultimate destination at the end of life. Only at the end of life, with the inner stillness that we achieve, can we appreciate the subjectivity of others and the impermanence of our own existence. The atmosphere of the poem is almost Zen-like in stress upon how human beings need to achieve a sense of calmness and quiet within themselves to appreciate life. It also suggests that the purpose of life is reflective: to see things, like the leaves and the clouds, as they truly are, rather than to obscure them in light of our own personal obsessions and interests. A rushing stream is not a good mirror, but still water reveals the texture of the leaves: just as 'reflection' is the ultimate, higher purpose of the stream, so reflection is the purpose of human life.

However, "Reflection" also suggests that achieving such a state of inner calm while alive is impossible, and may...

"If so far we have been unable to see clearly or to reflect the eternal lineaments of truth, is it not because we too are still moving towards some end-because we are still alive?" As we move, our mind goes cluttered, and the ultimate end and purpose of life is obscured, like the winding path of the stream. Until the end, our attempts at understanding will forever be incomplete. But rest assured, when we finally come to that end, we will understand.