charles bukowski was an american [german-american, to be precise] writer and poet whom i literally 'stumbled upon' on the worldwide web. according to the wiki on him, he has to his credit thousands of poems and dozens of short stories, as well as six novels. i have read nothing of his other than his poetry. i like it because it is stark, realistic and exceptionally minimalistic. most of his poetry that i have come across has a bleak, somewhat anti-social undercurrent.
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
1 comment:
i really like this poem. i wish i could hang it outside my office door. oh well. unfortunately those old people control a lot of decisions. and so you have to give in and tolerate. oh, the joys of being middle class!!
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