The Pictures Poem by Sheila Knowles

The Pictures

Rating: 5.0


I loved going to the pictures
when I was a kid
that’s what we called it then
in the days before online tickets
and the Imax experience

It was an afternoon’s event
two to three hours
of childhood debauchery
dodging the light
from the usher’s torch
when we’d fired popcorn
from the balcony
or dribbled our fizzy orange
on some poor fool’s head

We’d yawn and snort our way
through the trailers
and the lead-up film
then yelp like hyenas
when those heavy velvet curtains
dragged themselves along the floor
for the feature

There was an intermission in those days
most of us
didn’t even understand the word
but it rolled off our tongues
like the tang of the orange ice pops
we’d shove into our greedy gobs

I remember the smell
dust and static
and popcorn salt
all mixed into a heady froth of excitement
a bubble of innocent joy
that even time
hasn’t managed to burst

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Anna Russell 23 March 2006

Aah... Saturday afternoon, Teen Wolf/ET/Return of The Jedi('no WAY! ! ! He's Lukes dad! ! ! ! ') and enough sugar to take down a horse. Thankyou for the delicious reminder. Hugs Anna xxx PS I wish they'd bring back those intermissions - it's too long to go without a cigarette.

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Sylvia Spencer 13 March 2006

A nice poem Sheila, I remember them well/ I love poems about nostalger, because I belive peoples minds should be kept alive about their youth. cheers Sylvie

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Poetry Hound 12 March 2006

Yes, the curtains and the intermissions, and even the double features or at least a cartoon before the main feature. And no stupid commercials. Your poem is a nice walk down memory lane. Thanks, Sheila.

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