In

the war,

we learned to

scorn the youngers

just as the olders learned to

scorn us. Learned to treat the youngers

as disposable just as the olders learned to

treat us as disposable. In other words, we inherited

our hate by watching, learning, doing. Until it came natural,

and it was like breathing. Until we wore our cruelty like a second skin.

Questioning the order of things—uttering why? was the greatest sin. So, we

learned to exile this word from our vocabularies early on, banishing the inclination

to ask. Like stones swallowed, that would sink and stay sunken in the lakes of our bellies.

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Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: The world exists to break your heart. 

Some deal with this fact by breaking it back.    Others just end up

breaking themselves. A few, who are somehow able to

accept what’s broken, may find a way to

eventually be grateful for it. 

These people

are called

fools.