they say infants are born solipsistic.

and only with additional evidence to the contrary
do they adopt an appropriate theory of mind,
the saving grace from schizoid tendencies,
sociopathy, addiction,
that sets them on the righteous path of empathy.

but what then, of the sliver of humans
who are never emancipated by
this neo-piagetian philosophy?

perhaps they fall prey to akratic hells
the habits of hyperbolic discounting

are these people truly demons of their own doing?
or are they victims
fallen to the hands of time
moving forth in a frenzy of short-term passions
only to find themselves – decades later –
looking back in search of
the good things that got away?