tragic

our lives are tragic,

starving artists overlooked

die in poverty

they are buried as paupers -

then - too late - gain cult status

 

our lives are tragic,

idle nonentities,

mediocrities,

pornography millionaires

make fortunes on ‘fans only’

 

our lives are tragic,

the media is full of

‘elites’ enjoying

sunshine bikini junkets

on Caribbean beaches

 

our lives are tragic,

in consultants’ surgeries

families are told

‘sign here, it is for the best’ -

making mum a ‘d.n.r.’

 

our lives are tragic,.

unweds fear the unborn one

swelling their belly

will spoil Magaluf this year

so opt for termination

 

our lives are tragic.

holiday hilarity

is soon forgotten

as Visa interest mounts

and Christmas starts in August

 

our lives are tragic,

souls despair of finding love,

accept second best,

so it’s on with the motley,

and re-paint a rictus smile

 

our lives are tragic,

sprawled on the sofa drinking

bottles of vino,

watching Tommy Cooper die -

life, has turned out, ‘just like that’.