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Jack's in a quandary over his old jeans:
Due to extreme neglect and sloppy care
The holes at the knees need rush repair,
While buying new denims is well beyond his means.

Says Jack:
"Hey, I'm not a schlemiel nor a schlimazel,
I'll mend my jeans myself and fix this budget puzzle:
My rich experience and higher education,
Leave no room for worries and frustration."

He cuts from each jeans leg a bottom slice
Then patches holes at the knees -- cheap, neat, and nice!
True, that Jack's calves now stick out bare --
Just like in shorts --
but Jack doesn't care,
Nor is he bothered with the ridicule.
He says: "But I am not a fool,
I will apply creative tailor's art
And fix new problem with a scrap from other part
Of jeans.

I see the way to go, I'm not blind!"
He cuts two patches out from jeans' behind,
To fix the legs.
Though pieces are too short in size,
But Jack is pleased with savings --
isn't he wise?
Of course when he's dressed, it's an obscene display:
His bargain's an offensive joke of the day,
The laughing stock
That anyone can mock,
And sneer,
And cheer!

There are "smart" statesmen in the government and trades
Who would rely on patches and band-aids
To run a business or a state in their care.
They'd fill financial deficit and slack,
By robbing Peter to pay Paul, and back.
But look: it is Jack's "budget jeans" they wear!;

Dr. Anatoly Tsaliovich holds a Ph.D. in telecommunications and electromagnetic engineering. A Bell Labs retiree, he is an author of eight technical books and a book of fables, consults and teaches on the technical subjects of his expertise in the U.S. and overseas, and also writes fiction.