the gambit doesn’t work,

too slow,

not enough momentum, not the right season,

the premoves look too deliberate and we’re outta time,

but we never had much to begin with,

so take what you can get and give random check

begrudgingly silent in the movies while the popcorn cracks

beneath the surface of my toes

and i ask for the usher to play another movie

because i don’t like the one playing

but they tell me that’s not how this works,

so shut up

and watch the damn show

Fred Aiken Writing