LEFT IN THE DARK

A BOY GOES TO THE MOVIES WITH HIS FATHER.

Your father took you
to see a Jeff Chandler movie

and you sat there
in the dark

eating popcorn
sharing some with him

and taking in
the cowboys

and guns
and imaging you

were up there
riding your imaginary horse

shooting your gun
along side the others

when your father got up
and went off

into the darkness
and so you continued

to watch the movie
giving no further thought

to where he'd gone
the john perhaps

or to buy some smokes
or get some air

and you just stayed
sitting there watching

when some young dame
came down

and said
your father’s had a choking fit

but he’s ok now
and you said

shame he’s missed the best bit
and she whispered

(her voice like Marilyn Monroe’s)
I don’t think he gives a s**t

and the odd thing was
out of the blue

you said kind of shy
neither do I.