kindness

we are always asked

to understand the other person's

viewpoint

no matter how

out-dated

foolish or

obnoxious.



one is asked

to view

their total error

their life-waste

with

kindliness,especially if they are

aged.



but age is the total of

our doing.

they have aged

badly

because they have

lived

out of focus,

they have refused to

see.



not their fault?



whose fault?



mine?



I am asked to hide



my viewpoint

from them

for fear

of their fear.



age is no crime



but the shame

of a deliberately

wasted

life



among so many

deliberately

wasted

lives



is.



--'be kind', charles bukowski