the black and white matinee

it was a black

and white movie. like how

they used

to make

before they started to jiggle

the camera

from every angle,

making you seasick,

never focusing

on one person or place

for more than

three seconds.

the dialogue

was clear back then,

people annunciated their

words,

except for actors like Marlon

Brando.

you didn't need

closed captions,

the music was

not trying to force emotions

upon you

with violins and drums,

a full cacophony of

orchestrated of noise.

people kept their clothes on

for the most part,

a kiss being sexier

than bare

skin.

the story

depended upon

good writing, a solid

script

and plot

and what they used to call

acting.