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.

“这些年我除了变老一无所获。”有时候这样的念头会袭击不少人，但随即人们意识到这样想的危险。危险来自哪里？不知道，不敢探究，一探究就可能被浓稠的黑暗紧紧裹住，再回不来。于是人们让这想法一闪而过，迅速回到安全熟悉的小径，想想开心的事，小小的满足，或者至少是——别人分发的一点儿善意。就这样，又一次平安地度过了。