Welcome to Cozy Poetry Corner by Debra A Winter (Richter)

(This poem plays with musical‑theater rhythm and candy‑coated imagery. Which explores the gap between what we’re promised and what we experience. A little humor, a little truth, and a whole lot of golden axes swinging in the background.)

“The Sweetness They Sell Us: Swinging the Golden Axes”

One, two, three, four.

Who are we working for?

The government, the government,

Tripping on cracked laid cement!

Five, six, seven, eight;

Help me find my roller skates.

Gotta move fast, can’t go slow—

Pour me another cup of joe.

Taxes, taxes — who divides taxes?

It’s the government that’s swinging the axes?

Oh, the government, yes, the government—

Guardians of the freshly poured cement.

One, two, three, and four—

How do the people rate on the floor?

Do the yeses, or do the nays, ignite the fight?

Or does the President set it right?

Taxes, taxes — I hate those taxes…

Who’s swinging all the golden axes?

Six, seven, eight—

Only we can decide our fate!

Or the government can —

For its written in their plan.

Oh, the government can…

The government can.

Who can take a sunrise,

Spin it into truth,

Cover it in chocolate and a miracle or two.

The government — oh, the government can.

Who can take a rainbow,

Wrap it in a sigh;

Sock it to its people; and make the military fly.

The government, oh, the government can.

Who can take tomorrow?

Dip us in a dream—

Separate “illegals” and collect up all the green;

The government? Oh, the government can.

The government makes everything sound so great;

They never even clean their plate.

Yet, making it satisfying, and delicious.

Enjoying it — never doing the dishes!

Let’s separate the hate and sorrow;

Skim off the cream for a better tomorrow.

Who can do it? The people can—

Oh yes, the people certainly can.

Let’s vote them out of office;

Right on their righteous rears;

And bottle up the government.

Let them carry all their fears.

That’s the government.

Oh, the government, of course.