I like writing poems in a miniature notepad
in the cinema hoping
people think I’m a movie reviewer.
I put the pen’s end in my mouth
and raise my head slightly
to pretend I’m thinking of a clever metaphor
about the lead actor before writing
something about the foldable seats
looking like gravestones.
When I know someone is looking my way
at a particularly poor moment in the film
I shake my head and mouth “five stars”
while writing how the dropped
popcorn sprayed out across the dark floor
looks like a dying galaxy.

Carl Burkitt 2024