It becomes more & more obvious as we go on

Age is something quite important to some

But we see also the very most important trait

Is the level of maturity we acquire as we age



There are so many, many children of this world

Who do not acquire understanding and so hurl

Insults and words of meanness, rudeness and hate

Because they have not yet become attuned at gates



Which could lead to so much better understanding

Of the differences between culture and landings

Which have brought so many of us together at doors

Which lead into this wide universe which we all adore



But only if we accept this truth openly and with relish

For if we are of a sensitive mind, we become squeamish

When people throw accusations based on misunderstanding

For they then become undone themselves without handing



Respect - which each one of us on earth can indeed muster 

For we all have a right to be, and so we must adjust it

... That feeling which makes us pretend we're so right

Without giving others the time to see all of the light



Which comes from patience, and controlling our tempers

For every one of us has it in us to deal with members

Of the human race in such a way which allows each space

To be whoever he or she is without regard to age ...



And when we do so, we become above all of the clutter

Which seems to involve us with things which don't matter

For when it comes down to it - we are all very capable

Of dealing with gaps between ages and so become stable



For this will lead in a very short time to maturity

As long as we keep doing this as we maintain our purity

In rationalization, reasoning, and realistic deductions

Based on knowledge we attain as we learn how to function



In environments within which there are such disparate views

On how we acquire friendships, without being given the blues

Our primary concern then must be to find ourselves willing

To jell with others no matter what ages so we can be filling



Ourselves up with compassion, understanding & brotherly love

For every one of us has it in us to do this and rise above

Pettiness - which reflects only on maturity so unrealized

Which other people will see and thus haste to give a prize



Which will make them grow one more notch on their handles

As they then go on and grow heads bigger as they kindle

Unbalanced feelings with their need to become greater

When all they are doing is learning how to scrape up



The pieces of exploded matters which they have not absolved

For they're too busy riding on crests of waves to solve

More important matters which they believe deep down hinge

On differences in ages for they see only this and cringe



Instead of accepting fact and dealing with steady minds

Which will then help them come to involvement of a kind

Of understanding of similar needs and calls for kinship

Whose flags some of us wave regardless of age & so flip



When we connect with physically younger minds who do show

They have the level of maturity of those older and so glow

With the knowledge & wisdom they've attained in short years

Which has given them the ability to be open without fears



There are some of these ... and they do quite abound

In places where we are also likely to hang around

But finding them is quite another matter for they

Are involved in other pursuits and so do not stay



'Tis a shame they do not have much greater patience

For if they did, they would quite soon become friends

With others who also seek this so much better quality

Which is admired by many who equate not age with frivolity



For age is all really a matter which each one of us has

To deal with by full and complete acceptance of it as 

Fact and not something about which we can at all change

For the reality is - we are who we are and so can arrange



To be accepted regardless of what this number represents

For each of has it in us to be fully in the presence

Of others who may not be anywhere near our bracket

But with whom we could indeed have intelligent chat



For what it boils down to is acceptance of each other

And with that - realization we must treat all as brothers

For we all have something to give and some will cherish

That which we are regardless of any age which does flourish



For when we see this - and accept - we then will be

So much better people - for we'll thus have maturity

Or, at least - be on the road to it and thus not blind

To the so important idea that age is only a state of mind.



- Tristram