POETRY

Cinematic

A Prompted Poem

instant film photo by author (I forget where — Texas panhandle I think)

Remember the mall theatre
nachos and popcorn, the
summer jobs, bored teenagers
not bothering to check IDs
(the thrill of rated R)
sticky floors and heads in the way
somebody at the back kicked
over a drink: pick up your feet
I still don’t put my bag
beneath my seat

Remember standing in long lines
for opening nights and blockbusters
getting there to score a good spot
comparing how many times you’d
seen them, going back for more
drawn to the tractor beam of the big screen

Remember the curtain
the noise of the projector
the crowds and the ticket stubs
the occasional intermission

let’s go to the movies
let’s not wait
let’s bring it all back
let’s choose once was over now

Recently, Paroma Sen suggested a movie prompt. Take a look!