the fudge

nothing adds up,
no matter how many times
I press
the buttons
and let the total
come forth
the numbers are wrong.
just off
enough to skew
the ledger,
undo the balance,
but there's time
still,
another three weeks
under
the dining room
light,
the pot of coffee,
a tin of pie,
receipts
and forms,
these paper planets
will align, or
not,
an eraser might do
the trick
once more.