The Ticket Taker

an old movie house is condemned

The ticket man had all he needed
from many kinds of people greeted
the bad news came 
at the worst time of all
the hard things happened to him in the Fall

The theatre was a grand but simple place
the ladies room had flowers and lace
he'd worked there forever and ever it seems
where people escaped to celluloid dreams

Where the curtains parted before each show
and the candy counter continued to glow
cartoons and previews greeted the crowd
from tiny tots to the well-endowed

Ushers led people from seat to seat
while our ticket taker continued to greet
popcorn wafted all thru the air
don't sit behind the biggest of hair

This was a perfect Zagnut bar
as people gawked at the movie star
our ticket taker recieved the news
he felt his knees shake into his shoes

The theatre would be closed and levelled soon
the ticket man peered at the moon
he thought this news was just a joke
so he walked outside to have a smoke

The world was changing and much too fast
this movie house should last and last
he went back in to double check
by intermission his nerves a wreck

"What will I do ? where will I go ?
this place IS me...we live to show"
he closed the door when everyone left
he stared at the screen
he was bereft

He walked down the aisle in deepest hurtin'
his shaky hand caressed the curtain
he'd worked so hard for 40 years
the curtains now would dab his tears

His final paycheck would come on Friday
he decided "Time to die day"

They found him hunkered in his seat
with 3-D glasses on his feet
the popcorn rested in his lap
he seemed at peace
and "took a nap"

But he was "dead alright" the coroner said
they carried him out like heavy lead
but the truth be told at 3 AM
Frankenstein had called him "FRIEND"!
his arms reached out at 3:11
and took our man to Movie Heaven

C August 30 2004 

C J. Marks

Author's Note

this is ancient. carries a story in a monotonous fashion, I confess.

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

I find this very enjoyable, and the last bit made me smile. While reading, I thought of "Irene", the petite lady who issued the tickets at my small, hometown theater when I was young. I guess change is inevitable, but it's not always for the better. You're really good at this, Edwina.