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]