“Sweet Old Man”
Gabrielle Faust ©2025
Seventy-five years ago,
He was all about Jim Crow,
Now, the world sees
Just a sweet old man
In a retirement home,
Jovially complimenting
The young women who
Work the front office,
As he walks his
Soot-colored miniature poodle,
Through the lavish lobby,
Ignorant of the inheritance
He has handed us
In the decision he made,
The faith he laid in a fascist
He himself would have
Fought wars against
When he was
A young man.
But age and obscene wealth,
And those deep-seeded,
Not so silent prejudices,
Gave him reason to betray
His country,
And embrace a willing ignorance.
Perhaps, that is why
He wears dark shades,
Every day,
To hide the kind of shame
That human eyes cannot obscure,
After all, he won’t be
Around long enough
To truly see the product of
His folly,
Or the tragedy we will endure.
So, for now,
Through gritted teeth
We smile and wave,
At the “sweet old man”
At the break of each day.
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