This poem takes a different route from much of my usual poetry. It begins with the word “incessant” and carries this meaning throughout the poem with various synonyms. Using free verse, the number of syllables remains consistent with seven in the odd-numbered lines and ten in the even-numbered ones. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
Under the night sky, Hollywood’s best shine bright
Notable scenes from drive-ins come to the screen
Danny and Sandy from “Grease” making the scene
Winning combination fuels drive-ins’ success
Love of movies plus cars, who would ever guess?
Practicing social distancing, cars spread out
Another summer night, film-inspired blowout
Family piles into the station wagon
Good thing we traded that tiny Volkswagen
Mom and Dad, reservations in the front seat
Wearing pajamas, kids view from the back seat
Transporting all of us to a place of fun
Kids become quiet . . . fall asleep, one by one
Comfy family night under twilight’s stars
Slice of Americana, with movie stars
Courtesy of Pinterest.
Practicing social distance before anyone knew what it meant, America’s drive-ins have been a fixture since arriving in New Jersey in 1933. Following World War II, the American landscape exploded with new drive-ins. By 1952, outdoor movie attendance exceeded indoor theaters for the first time. During the 1950s, the number of drive-ins peaked at 5,000 or so.
Growing up in my childhood neighborhood, there was a little store just a few blocks away. My brothers and I made many a journey to the store for milk, bread, and other quick-to-find essentials for our mother. I cannot recall forgetting the milk and bread, but having a few coins in my pocket was treasure waiting to be spent on the candy found there.
The poem lists a few of the types of candy found back in the 1960s. Do you have a favorite candy from your childhood?
Big Sky Buckeye 