Life's Little Soap Opera (Poetry)

My life’s an old-time TV show
that’s running on repeat
not entertaining any more
most viewers are asleep

The scenery long-faded now
some faces past recall
plus there’s the odd depressing act
that fails to fit at all

As stories go, the laughs are few
some tender hearts might weep
but nothing to write home about
no ripping yarns to keep

from mediocre and banal —
a yawnsville kind of plot
that twists and turns but messes up
each Hollywood-style shot

The final series coming soon
my scriptwriter has quit
no one’s directing from now on
I’m just ad-libbing it

This soap opera has had its day
the ratings in decline
let critics pan it as they will
it’s never felt like mine