We're teetering, we've been told,

On a financial fiscal cliff,

Off which will fall both young and old.

A penalty that's stiff.

Taxes will go up, up, up.

Spending gets the ax.

We'll drink from this bitter cup,

The cost of being lax.

Who has the best solution?

The White House? Congress? No!

We ask you, the thinkers of the nation,

To help us end this woe.

Write a ditty or a limerick

Or even a haiku

That puts this mess in language plain.

Please tell us what you'd do.

Please e-mail your Fiscal Cliff Fix poems to tellus@startribune.com. A selection of the poems will appear in print and online.