by Iris Herriot

“Sweden Finally Chose a Prime Minister. She Lasted About 7 Hours.”
—The New York Times

Let no one hasten to condemn
The first she-Swede to be PM,
Who was in half a day elected,
Abandoned, floored, and self-ejected.
According to the global Press,
She’d never guessed (how could she guess?)
She’d blot her copy-book, or smudge it,
By just not budging on her budget.