I paid off one bill;
And suddenly…twenty more
Crept up from behind!

Wasn’t I paying You Guys
Each and every month?

I’m sure I was.

So why the sudden clamor?
Why the knocking at the door?
The ringing of the phone
Fit to dance it off the wall?

Nothing new came to my house.
Nothing changed–everything
Is just the same.

The same house, the same pets
The same people.

So I have news
All you upstart clamoring bills!
Sit down there,
Right there on the spread sheet
Take your minimums
Till better days come along.

You’ll get paid, too.
Then…
The phone will be quiet.
The door will be still.
I will buy cat treats,
Doggie toys…
And maybe even a new book!