taxes

the tax lady
smiles and jokes.
she has a pencil
behind her ear,
and ink stains
on her fingers,
machines are clicking
in the back.
not too bad, she says.
better than most.
sign here, and here
and here.
so you dodged a bullet,
she says,
with a grin,
be grateful that you
escaped
from that hell
after only a year,
and whatever
you do, come see
me first
before you do it again.