In answer to a mandate by the Surveyor of the Taxes

Sir, as your mandate did request,

I send you here a faithfu’ list,

O’ gudes an’ gear, an’ a’ my graith,

To which I’m clear to gi’e my aith. (R. Burns, “The Inventory”)

Do you remember when I fought

The bank and the courthouse ring,

For pocketing the interest on public funds?

And when I fought our leading citizens

For making the poor the pack-horses of the taxes?

And when I fought the water works

For stealing streets and raising rates? (E.L. Masters, “Harry Carey Goodhue”)

I du believe the people want

A tax on teas an’ coffees,

Thet nothin’ aint extravygunt,—

Purvidin’ I’m in office; . . .

I du believe in any plan

O’ levyin’ the taxes,

Ez long ez, like a lumberman,

I git jest wut I axes; (J.R. Lowell, “The Pious Editor’s Creed”)

That very morning

The Federal Judge, in the very next room

To the room where I took the oath,

Decided the constitution

Exempted Rhodes from paying taxes

For the water works of Spoon River! (E.L. Masters, “Ida Chicken”)

But each year, unawares,

He sent a sum for taxes due—

And fence repairs. (H.C. Stearns, “Reuben Roy”)

Someone, please tell me,

if you know, where does,

all the money go? (Mac McGovern, “Taxes”)

Tax not my sloth that I

Fold my arms beside the brook;

Each cloud that floated in the sky

Writes a letter in my book. (R.W. Emerson, “The Apology”)