Tonight's Feature

 

The clouds separate, like the drawing

Of the curtains at a movie theater

And the sky is suddenly flooded

With a cavalcade of stars.

Elizabeth Taylor as Cassiopeia

Lounges seductively upon her chair

Casting come hither glances towards

Steve Reeves’ Hercules who is locked

In mortal combat with the Hydra –

Special effects courtesy of Ray Harryhausen.

Kirk Douglas as Orion the Hunter

Pulls the string of his great bow

And sets fly a flaming arrow

That impales Ursa Major’s rump

Who rises up roaring and with one

Giant paw swipes the Big Dipper

From the sky, spilling a shower

Of shooting stars all across the sky.

A 1950’s science fiction rocket

Blasts past overhead,

Disguised as a satellite or an airplane,

But we know it’s an invasion

And only the teenagers down at the Soda Shop

Led, of course, by Steve McQueen

Can put a stop to their nefarious scheme.

Later, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

Traipse across the blue face of the moon

Then it’s intermission and the night

Is filled with burlesque popcorn boxes

And dancing hot dogs.

Published in California Quarterly, Spring 2010