it is dark
life’s irony
a contemptible tattoo
wry
and scalding
brief
but inflexible
turning our pages
expediently
gauchely
to diminish
&
disproportionately
disadvantage
as
it sings
its contagion

for a laugh

First published in tamba,Issue 68, June 2021 by Goulburn Valley Writers,
Pat Patt editor
www.gvwritersgroup.com