Tragic
From my book – a rare piece of didacticism – tanka format,
Our lives are tragic.
Poverty-stricken artists,
overlooked, despised,
are buried in paupers’ graves,
cult status achieved too late.
Our lives are tragic.
Worthless nonentities,
mediocrities,
exploit notoriety
becoming millionaires.
Our lives are tragic.
We view the spectacle of
elites enjoying
expenses-paid junketing
far beyond mere grafters’ dreams.
Our lives are tragic.
In consultants’ offices
Sons, with pen in hand
told, “Sign here, it’s for the best,”
avoid mother’s haunted eyes.
Our lives are tragic.
Young girls fear the unborn one
swelling their belly
will spoil Magaluf this year
so opt for termination.
Our lives are tragic.
Holiday hilarity
is soon regretted
as Visa interest mounts
and Christmas starts in August.
Our lives are tragic.
Souls despair of finding love.
Make-up covers tears.
So it’s on with the motley,
repainting that rictus smile.
Our lives are tragic.
Sprawling on the sofa with
a bottle of wine,
chortling at Tommy Cooper.
Life, it seems, is, “Just like that.”
‘Just like that.’ And so it is, too. Like a shit sandwich, the more bread you have, the less shit you have to eat. Well told mate.
Cheers 🙂
Nice close, esp enjoyed magaluf, this is hard hitting and quite raw in places, well done. tanka very much
I try to swerve contemporary didacticism but now and again it creeps out – thanks 🙂
I wasn’t sure where this was leading until the last verse.
Nod of the head and a smile…Just like that
sometimes it’s better to get off before the end ha ha – glad you like 🙂 Rick.
Yes, it is tragic,especially when the consultant says:sign here.Like is like a baby’s nighty:,short and shitty, just like that. be lucky , Peter.
cheers 🙂