U.S. National Debt Clock‘Hey Gen Z, There’s a Huge Inheritance Coming Your Way’: An Election Poem by Mark F. Stone The Society November 1, 2024 Poetry, Satire 24 Comments . Hey Gen Z, There’s a Huge Inheritance Coming Your Way Inheritance? What could it be? __A house? A yacht? A jet? No way. It’s much, much bigger. __It’s called the National Debt. The debt is 35 trillion plus. __An upward trend is clear. We add at least another trillion __every single year. This year, we’ll pay a trillion just __for interest on the debt. This means a lot of services __that we will never get. The politicians will not cut. __They do not have the will. They’ll spend so they can win more votes, __and leave you with the bill. And if you ask them why the debt __is 35 trillion plus, it’s likely they will ghost you, or __their answers will be sus. The Ship of State that you’ll inherit __might cause you to panic. Instead of the Queen Mary, you’ll __be getting the Titanic. So vote for those who say control __of spending is their aim. To save your country, have your bros __and besties do the same. This fiscal task may not be fire, __but change must be pursued. The spending is at your expense. __You’re getting hella screwed! . . Mark F. Stone worked as an attorney (active duty and civil service) for the United States Air Force for 33 years and is retired. He began writing poems in 2005, as a way to woo his bride-to-be into wedlock. His poems have been published by Light, The Ohio Poetry Association, The Road Not Taken: The Journal of Formal Poetry, the Society of Classical Poets, Whatfinger News, Ric Edelman’s The Truth About Your Future podcast, and the Seeking Alpha Alpha Picks podcast. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Trending now: 24 Responses Rohini November 1, 2024 This was truly laugh out loud brilliant! Reply Mark F. Stone November 2, 2024 Rohini, Thank you! Mark Reply Brian A. Yapko November 1, 2024 Very pointed and fun poem, Mark. The panic/Titanic rhyme is particularly brilliant. Fiscal responsibility is yet one more enormous difference between the presidential choices this year. The idea of using our tax dollars to pay for benefits for illegal immigrants and for the completely unearned forgiveness of student loans (especially of Hamas-lovers) gives me a sour stomach. Reply Mark F. Stone November 2, 2024 Brian, I agree. Mark Reply Joseph S. Salemi November 1, 2024 It’s not just the unpayable National Debt, which will mushroom like an atomic bomb blast if Kamala is elected. It is the utter shredding of our constitutional rights and liberties that her left-liberal Democrat Party will bring about. Reply Mark F. Stone November 2, 2024 Professor Salemi, Let’s hope for a good outcome on Election Day. Mark Reply Cheryl Corey November 1, 2024 A pity that few, if any, Gen Z will read this poem. Reply Mark F. Stone November 2, 2024 Cheryl, To share the poem with more Gen Z’ers, I called my local radio station and read the poem on the air. I also posted the poem (and my Trump poem) on X (formerly Twitter) at: x.com/commonsensepoet Now I’m hoping that people on X will share it. Mark Reply Adam Wasem November 1, 2024 Wittily and succinctly put. The sprightly meter and brisk diction make for a very effective satire–a very good “laugh so you don’t cry” poem. I especially appreciate it, because I could never put the matter so succinctly. I fear the coming financial catastrophe is going to cause so much destruction across the country–indeed, across the world–to those who are least prepared and can least afford it I feel like a hymnal full of dirges won’t suffice. Reply Mark F. Stone November 2, 2024 Adam, Let’s hope we can change our ship’s course. Mark Reply Warren Bonham November 1, 2024 Great poem. I loved the Titanic/panic stanza. Why are we too blind to see the iceberg we’re heading towards? Reply Mark F. Stone November 2, 2024 Warren, Selfishness and shortsightedness. Mark Reply Evan Mantyk November 1, 2024 I read it to my Gen Z kids at the dinner table, Mark, and they had to admit it was good! Well done. Reply Mark F. Stone November 2, 2024 Evan, Please tell them, “Thank you.” Mark Reply Roy Eugene Peterson November 2, 2024 Unlike the Titanic, we have heard ample warnings of the eventual sinking of our Ship of State with those at the helm not heeding the signal bells. Your poem certainly is a contribution to the warnings with only the perspicacious understanding what is at stake! If only they would read your excellent and insightful poem and get the message. Reply Mark F. Stone November 2, 2024 Roy, I’m sending it to other destinations in hopes that it will have a positive impact. Mark Reply James Sale November 2, 2024 I am visiting my 18 month old granddaughter this coming Wednesday and shall read it to her – atrociously, she’s precociously advanced – for the little darling will have this problem too: the UK’s most recent ‘Budget’ condemns us to bankruptcy in the next 5 years! Lovely work, Mark: they don’t call you Stone for nothing; you are a wisdom rock for us! Reply Mark F. Stone November 2, 2024 James, Thank you for your very kind words. I’ll bet you’re reading your granddaughter some lovely children’s poems. Mark Reply Cynthia Erlandson November 2, 2024 A well-phrased, sad and scary warning. Reply Mark F. Stone November 2, 2024 Cynthia, Fitting for Halloween. Thank you for commenting! Mark Reply Mark Stellinga November 2, 2024 A fun little poem with a terrifying message, Mark. Sadly, so much damage is already done and the consequences, world wide, are and, will continue to be, devastating. Trump will definitely help to ease the pain, but recovery, in most cases, will be excruciatingly gradual. ‘Hope springs eternal’. Excellent piece – Reply Mark F. Stone November 2, 2024 Mark, I’m glad you like the poem. Mark Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant November 6, 2024 I always look forward to your poems, Mark, and this one gets straight to the point with poetic aplomb… a tough task for a subject this serious. Well done! Reply Mark F. Stone January 19, 2025 Susan, Thank you! Mark Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Brian A. Yapko November 1, 2024 Very pointed and fun poem, Mark. The panic/Titanic rhyme is particularly brilliant. Fiscal responsibility is yet one more enormous difference between the presidential choices this year. The idea of using our tax dollars to pay for benefits for illegal immigrants and for the completely unearned forgiveness of student loans (especially of Hamas-lovers) gives me a sour stomach. Reply
Joseph S. Salemi November 1, 2024 It’s not just the unpayable National Debt, which will mushroom like an atomic bomb blast if Kamala is elected. It is the utter shredding of our constitutional rights and liberties that her left-liberal Democrat Party will bring about. Reply
Mark F. Stone November 2, 2024 Professor Salemi, Let’s hope for a good outcome on Election Day. Mark Reply
Mark F. Stone November 2, 2024 Cheryl, To share the poem with more Gen Z’ers, I called my local radio station and read the poem on the air. I also posted the poem (and my Trump poem) on X (formerly Twitter) at: x.com/commonsensepoet Now I’m hoping that people on X will share it. Mark Reply
Adam Wasem November 1, 2024 Wittily and succinctly put. The sprightly meter and brisk diction make for a very effective satire–a very good “laugh so you don’t cry” poem. I especially appreciate it, because I could never put the matter so succinctly. I fear the coming financial catastrophe is going to cause so much destruction across the country–indeed, across the world–to those who are least prepared and can least afford it I feel like a hymnal full of dirges won’t suffice. Reply
Warren Bonham November 1, 2024 Great poem. I loved the Titanic/panic stanza. Why are we too blind to see the iceberg we’re heading towards? Reply
Evan Mantyk November 1, 2024 I read it to my Gen Z kids at the dinner table, Mark, and they had to admit it was good! Well done. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson November 2, 2024 Unlike the Titanic, we have heard ample warnings of the eventual sinking of our Ship of State with those at the helm not heeding the signal bells. Your poem certainly is a contribution to the warnings with only the perspicacious understanding what is at stake! If only they would read your excellent and insightful poem and get the message. Reply
Mark F. Stone November 2, 2024 Roy, I’m sending it to other destinations in hopes that it will have a positive impact. Mark Reply
James Sale November 2, 2024 I am visiting my 18 month old granddaughter this coming Wednesday and shall read it to her – atrociously, she’s precociously advanced – for the little darling will have this problem too: the UK’s most recent ‘Budget’ condemns us to bankruptcy in the next 5 years! Lovely work, Mark: they don’t call you Stone for nothing; you are a wisdom rock for us! Reply
Mark F. Stone November 2, 2024 James, Thank you for your very kind words. I’ll bet you’re reading your granddaughter some lovely children’s poems. Mark Reply
Mark Stellinga November 2, 2024 A fun little poem with a terrifying message, Mark. Sadly, so much damage is already done and the consequences, world wide, are and, will continue to be, devastating. Trump will definitely help to ease the pain, but recovery, in most cases, will be excruciatingly gradual. ‘Hope springs eternal’. Excellent piece – Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant November 6, 2024 I always look forward to your poems, Mark, and this one gets straight to the point with poetic aplomb… a tough task for a subject this serious. Well done! Reply