.

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 LightThe Ohio Poetry AssociationThe Road Not Taken: The Journal of Formal Poetry, the Society of Classical PoetsWhatfinger News, Ric Edelman’s The Truth About Your Future podcast, and the Seeking Alpha Alpha Picks podcast.


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The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.


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24 Responses

  1. Brian A. Yapko

    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
  2. Joseph S. Salemi

    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

      Professor Salemi, Let’s hope for a good outcome on Election Day. Mark

      Reply
    • Mark F. Stone

      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
  3. Adam Wasem

    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
  4. Warren Bonham

    Great poem. I loved the Titanic/panic stanza. Why are we too blind to see the iceberg we’re heading towards?

    Reply
  5. Evan Mantyk

    I read it to my Gen Z kids at the dinner table, Mark, and they had to admit it was good! Well done.

    Reply
  6. Roy Eugene Peterson

    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

      Roy, I’m sending it to other destinations in hopes that it will have a positive impact. Mark

      Reply
  7. James Sale

    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

      James, Thank you for your very kind words. I’ll bet you’re reading your granddaughter some lovely children’s poems. Mark

      Reply
  8. Mark Stellinga

    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
  9. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    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

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