Movies in rhythm

A friend recently asked why this column falls under the “Movies” heading in the paper.

He said, “The first time I saw your name there, I thought, ‘Cool, Nat’s going to write about a movie.’ And then when I got halfway through and realized it wasn’t about a movie, I was already so invested in what you were talking about I kept reading.”

I appreciate the kind feedback, Ron. But I also appreciate the comment about the page heading!

So for the first time since I’ve been in the Friday paper, I am writing about movies. And just for fun, I’m going to do it all in the form of poetry. Hope you enjoy a great film this weekend!

HAIKU

Mrs. Doubtfire was

my favorite movie and

I guess it still is.

I got a tattoo

the day Robin Williams died.

Unrelated facts.

There is nothing like

popcorn, Raisinets, and a

good movie with him.

Wes Anderson is

incapable of screwing

up: Moonrise Kingdom.

Sometimes I forget

that Oprah is a brilliant

actress. How about you?

Atticus may not

be as perfect as he seemed.

Gregory Peck, though!

Movie theaters

are even colder in the

summer than winter.

Free refills are wastes

if you’re watching something great.

Who wants to get up??

Please, please never close

the dear dollar theater.

Family tradition.

SONNET

When I do check my phone for movie times,

And look at Rotten for the critic’s picks,

I find myself grow eager to recline,

In oversized plush chairs watching conflicts

Unfold on the big screen, my mouth full up

With popcorn, my Coke Zero at my side.

I text my husband to ask if he’s up,

For movie night. I wait for his reply.

“But who will watch the kids?” he texts me back.

They’re still too young to sit through a whole show.

The family’s out of town. No luck with that.

And sitters cost too much. We shouldn’t go.

We’ll grab some wine, enforce bedtime, then fill

Our glasses up at home. Redbox and chill.

This story was originally published June 24, 2016 at 3:50 PM with the headline "Movies in rhythm."