Herbert T. Abelson
Gaslighting
Why should I wait and see
I’ve seen enough
heard enough
to understand the hateful intimidation
discredited thoughts
manipulative behavior
underlying the danger of pent-up anger,
threats of violence, overt racism,
irrational lock-step
mistruths, half-truths, untruths
with a veneer of swarm and sleaze
promoted by an immature bully boy
Why do I want to wait and see
credit taken for revisionist non-facts
for disrespect
for outright lies
for vulgarity
for irrational behavior
for changing positions
Why should I wait and see
a cadre of millionaires and billionaires
address widespread inequality,
climate change as myth,
science as unimportant
Why should I wait and see
religious freedom abridged
a wall of infamy
nuclear madness
To be told there is something wrong with me
if I have a problem with anything you’ve done
and that only your thoughts (fluctuating wildly)
are based in reality is an affront
to a rational, stable society
Yes we underestimated, were overconfident,
underperformed and now suffer the consequences
His retort to all
Veni, Vidi, Vici
He is smug, rich, resentful, respecting only power and winning
I won—get over it
I’ve seen enough
heard enough
to be concerned for us
all of us
for humanity
for the planet
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.
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