Doing Our Taxes

Udit Bhatia invented cascade poetry in 2007. This relatively new style of poetry got its name because it should flow down the page in a waterfall effect. The poem’s structure is simple and relies on the refrain to create the cascading rhythm. The magic of these poems centers around the refrain. The unmetered poems vary in theme depending on the poet’s desire. The only rule used when writing a cascade is that all the lines in the first paragraph are repeated at the ends of every stanza that follows. I will call this cascade poem Doing Our Taxes.

Structure of a cascade poem and Doing Our Taxes

The lines are represented as ABC.
1) The first line ends with line A.
2) The second line ends with Line B.
3) The third line ends with line C.
I had written this form of poetry before and had fun with it. I plan to start the month of March using this style. The length of the stanza can vary. There is no rule about sticking to three lines. The thing to remember is that the longer the stanza, the more complicated the poem.

Doing Our Taxes

Using doing our taxes as our code
When Rooster and I wanted privacy
We’d set the kids in front of the TV,
When we claim to do our taxes.

Unaware of the suspicious seeds we sowed
When attempting to be discrete
Or simply the secrecy of the deception
Using doing our taxes as our code

It may have been the frequency.
We escaped behind closed doors
Without trying to explain or mention
When Rooster and I wanted privacy

It seems like a long time ago to me
Our children thought the IRS wanted us
I don’t know why they believed that way
Or simply the secrecy of the deception

These days we live alone, but nobody relaxes
The kids still know to make the call
Before they stop by the house
When we claim to do our taxes.

Who is Molly Shea?

Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh.  To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.

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