This fragment from Charles Bukowski captures a profound sense of weariness and the slow, often unacknowledged process of dying over the course of a lifetime. The imagery of "tired sunsets" evokes not just the ending of a day but the fatigue of natural cycles and moments that seem to fade without ceremony, mirroring the "tired people" who navigate through life's continuous exhaustion. The phrase "it takes a lifetime to die an" suggests that dying isn't a singular moment but a long, enduring journey full of fatigue and loss. This line feels like an ode to the deep-rooted struggles that people carry internally—often unnoticed by others—and how these struggles slowly erode our spirit and vitality. Bukowski's raw language and concise style punctuate the emotional heaviness with starkness and sincerity, pushing readers to reflect on the subtle ways we diminish through living. It calls attention to the emotional and existential wear of life, emphasizing endurance rather than sudden endings. Ultimately, it resonates as a haunting meditation on the human condition, the slow winding down, and the patience or perhaps inevitability with which we resign ourselves to the decline that life inevitably brings. It could also serve as a gentle reminder to be more mindful of this gradual fading—both in ourselves and in others—as we journey through existence.