34.7

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I was often amazed
as a kid
to see how thoroughly adults misunderstood the young
I kept it up through my twenties
and after I turned thirty
I was able to look back at the kids and smile with sympathy
how much they misunderstood life
their fiery passions and desperate yearnings
ah, the peace of maturity. . .

but wait! there’s more!

I’m still amazed
and see it happening to myself
I’m sure
each moment
I may forget why kids are as they are
even should I take a younger lover
I know how that goes
to marvel at how they burn
"whilst [i] can only wonder why"
but somewhat content to at least warm myself by their fire. . .

compassion is always an option, though
and can save us from humiliating each other

I always yearn to be in both worlds fully
and often end up lost in limbo
looking at them from a distance
(or, luckily, lost in one. . . but without, then, any perspective. . .
who needs perspective when one is in love?
maybe perspective has always been more important to me and is my undoing. . .
("in haunted attics"!)
)

maybe I have never yet felt a part of my generation (but isn’t my generation defined by not feeling a part of itself?)
or a family. . .
nationality, race, creed. . .
so I may never side specifically against any new movement I encounter
any more than I have all others

yet I do wish to understand

and with perspective I can
yes
it is in interaction where I am most foolish
. . . thus, also, most sublime