(My apologies to Edgar Allen Poe)
Once upon a midnight dreary as I
struggled weak and weary
Over a changed Form 1040 I had never
seen before.
Back and forth I did the sums, looking
for deduction crumbs
Hoping, ever hoping that I’d
find a way to score.
But alas twas not my lot to escape an
awful blot
Upon my worldly fortune, Uncle Sam
keeps wanting more.
My mind grows dim with sorrow, the due
date is tomorrow,
And I must find the answer else I’ll
end up very poor.
Can I deduct those gambling debts resulting from my stupid
bets?
Should I try to itemize my bar bill
from the club?
What about my one contribution, will
that not bring absolution?
Surely I can claim deduction for the
new pants that I tore.
Alas ‘tis midnight past, and the time is flying fast, and I
must find the answer
To the question: How much more?
You may think my answer funny; I'll
just send them all my money,
And request that they return to me all
that not spent before.
It is now six months gone by, and as
yet there’s no reply,
Could it be that Uncle Sam will grant
me no succor?
Then the Raven came rapping, rapping
The Raven came rapping, tapping at my
window door.
Oh! To be so doubly blessed, a
messenger from the IRS!
Surely he has come to tell me that my
problems are no more.
And I said “Oh
bird austere, do you bring me news of cheer?
If you brought to me a refund then
together we will soar.
I am down to bread and beans, for I do
not have the means
To buy a decent meal. Tell me Raven,
Am I affluent as I was in days of yore?
Quoth the Raven, “Never more!”
by Al Manning
No comments:
Post a Comment
We welcome your respectful comments, but will not accept anonymous ones.