Hello Poetry Lovers
Welcome back to Fleapit Corner.
How can we not reminisce about our former cinemas?! The more down-at-heel, the better!
We had two cinemas opposite each other in our town. The posher Embassy and the very scruffy Regent cinema opposite.
The Embassy got the creme of the releases at the time such as Clockwork Orange and The Devils, but the Regent had quite a few fun ones.
I abandoned it as I grew up for discos and plays but I was still sorry when it ceased to exist.
Anyway, here is my tribute, do read on…
Fleapit
Oh you Fleapit, you!
I was under your spell,
especially when you showed
Jack Wild films.
And Ryan’s Daughter.
And Carry On Henry.
And Ring of Bright Water.
But I think you sunk the lowest
With The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins.
I worshipped your lack of
balcony seats,
no airs and graces for you,
unlike the posh Embassy
over the road.
You knew your time was up.
Your rivals being divided up
into three cinemas.
You couldn’t compete with
your lethargic lettering
wonkily displaying Big Jake.
But like John Wayne,
your star had dimmed.
Along with your torn posters
and cheap lollies.
No Kiora drink could save you
now.
Goodbye and thanks.
I’m off to the Multiplex.
Good luck with the Bingo,
Then later on as a
Turkish Grocers.
Thanks for reading, PL’s. Extraordinary how we can be brutal at the time about an institution, then hanker for it years later.
Now I know you all have a fleapit inside you, so write in with your nostalgic poems please.
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…
Heather Moulson 