Herbert T. Abelson
Masquerade
chameleons change color to hide,
red to blue and back
like some political pretenders
praying mantises camouflage to conceal
then the lightning strike—not mean,
survival
octopuses change their skin texture and hue
remarkably effective hunters like almost no other—
skin not thin so thin or fragile
savage is not nature’s plan unlike POTUS
whose strikes are mean, senseless, duplicitous
bites without disguise
except to power
Herbert T. Abelson’s poems have appeared in Pharos, The Silkworm, American Academy of Pediatrics Senior Bulletin and What Rough Beast. He is a retired academic physician widely published in scientific journals. He is also a husband, father, grandfather, pinhole photographer, cook and car collector.
SUBMIT to What Rough Beast via our SUBMITTABLE site.
If you want to support the mission and work of Indolent Books, consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Indolent Arts Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity.
Join our mailing list to receive news, updates, and special offers from Indolent Books.