NaPoWriMo, Day Ten, Poem Five

Villanelle

They say that I'm not as funny anymore.
My jokes are coming off as sad or odd,
and I don't laugh as loudly as before.

I used to recoil happily from slamming doors
pratfall from cruel intent or act of God
but now I'm not as funny anymore.

My punchlines have become a gathered bore,
If someone I know dies, they can't applaud,
and I don't laugh as loudly as before

at my own jokes which could help me ignore
their own silence, their failure at facade
because I'm not as funny anymore,

not even when I give myself what for
He flinches at his own punchlines.  How odd.
No wonder he doesn't laugh as loudly as before.

My act is somewhere on the cutting room floor,
no longer able to work under rod.
when they say that I'm not as funny anymore
and I don't laugh as loudly as before