Be Kind

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.

-Charles Bukowski