A haiku about the government debt ceiling:
**The debt ceiling looms**
**Like a sword of Damocles above**
**Our financial future.**
Discussion
Damocles was a courtier in the court of Dionysius II of Syracuse, a 4th-century BC ruler of Syracuse, Sicily. The anecdote of Damocles and the sword is a metaphor for the ever-present peril faced by those in positions of power.
According to the story, Damocles was a sycophant who constantly praised Dionysius for his wealth and power. One day, Dionysius grew tired of Damocles's flattery and decided to teach him a lesson. He invited Damocles to a sumptuous banquet and seated him beneath a naked sword that was suspended from the ceiling by a single horse-hair. Damocles quickly realized that the sword represented the constant danger that Dionysius faced as a ruler. He begged Dionysius to let him go, and Dionysius agreed.
The story of Damocles and the sword is a reminder that power comes with a price. Those who are in positions of power must always be aware of the dangers that they face. The sword of Damocles is a constant reminder that power is fleeting and that even the most powerful people are vulnerable to attack.