by Ted Sherman

Created on: May 13, 2009

Sunsets represent the close of day, a time for the human spirit to pause and reflect on the gift of yet another 24 hours of life. Just before darkness comes, a moment of silent prayer may offer thanks to the glories of the setting sun.

On the other hand, sunset can have a profoundly negative effect on the human spirit. It may also be an unwelcome reminder that life's light is fading into the unknown. The oncoming, often unwelcome darkness may be a stark warning of the inevitable approach of the final night, the endless emptyness of death.

The effect sunset has on the human spirit may be as varied as the stars in the darkening skies. It can represent pride and satisfaction to the farmer who has toiled hard to keep his fields productive for yet another day. The carpenter can lay down his tools at sunset, and know he has earned his pay by building something constructive and lasting, to benefit his family long beyond this oncoming sunset. For the combat soldier, he knows he must prepare in the fading sunset for the unknown dangers of the night. To the young mother, sunset can bring welcome satisfaction knowing her long day's work is done, and she can sing her baby to sleep as comforting darkness creeps into the nursery room.

In entertainment, sunset is often used as a metaphor for a poem, song or drama's plot. In the 1950 movie, Sunset Boulevard the title had several meanings. It was the actual exclusive neighborhood of aging silent movie actress Norma Desmond's posh Beverly Hills mansion.

It also described her personal spiritual sunset, the end of her life's long journey from acclaimed movie star to forgotten recluse. As the story ends, the darkness of insanity overcomes Norma after she murders her young lover. As news cameras flash before she's taken away by police, she believes she's at the old studio in front of the silent movie cameras for a close-up scene.

From Fiddler on the Roof, there's an emotional song sung at a village wedding by the bride's parents. The lyrics are a reminder of the inevitable passage of life as measured by each day: Sunrise, sunset, swiftly fly the years; one season following another, laden with happiness and tears. Thus, sunrise and sunset are the parameters of life, encompassing both the bright, joyful days when weddings are celebrated, and the sad days that mark the oncoming times of darkness.

The lyrics of Elton John's Indian Sunset, first recorded in 1971, are full of raw anger, as if voiced by a young Native American. It became very popular during the years of that decade when there were many anti-government protests at reservations, and marked by violence at protest gatherings at Wounded Knee in South Dakota, and Alcatraz Island in California.

As Elton John's song ends, it implies that the hopes of improving the lives of Native Americans are still often fatally unfulfilled. And the red sun sinks at last into the hills of gold, and peace to this young warrior comes with a bullet hole

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