Rose-tinted

Are those rose-tinted clouds, or merely dark skies seen rose-tinted lenses?

Is that the sun coming over the horizon, or merely a trick of the eye?

Is that a rose, or a picture of past blooms?

A whiff of fresh air, or the smells of the past coming back to haunt the unsuspecting?

Is it a tango, or a solo?

Is it true? What is the end state? Or can it only be figured out, step by step?