Midnight Premiere

By Lili Manzo

 

Welcome to the theatre showing all your shattered dreams.

Want to buy some tickets? It'll cost you thirty screams.

 

Refreshments can be found at the counter near the noose.

Just take a left, go up those steps, and all your hopes can be let loose.

 

Done with the snacks? Good job! Now for the show.

Get past those black shadows and then find the front row.

 

Your life flashed before your eyes? No, those are just the ads!

Armrests feel like manacles? But those are comfy pads!

 

Now, on to the show! We hope you’re excited!

Freshly broken hopes? We sure are delighted!

 

Oh, you think the plot’s familiar? That can’t be right.

We designed this blockbuster to be fully airtight!

 

There’s not enough oxygen- stop thinking straight!

But maybe we can’t either; it’s been so long since we ate.

 

We’re getting kind of hungry. Good thing you’re here!

Time to pay for your ticket. We can smell your fear!

 

So, what’d you think of this movie premiere?

Painful? That is how  it appears…

 

Thank you, you’ve been a marvelous guest.

Give yourself a hand! (We get the rest.)

 

But you still haven’t told me what you thought!

Oh, silly me, naked bones don’t talk!

Or ever leave the theatre, because stripped bones can’t walk.

Or do anything else.

 

Don’t worry, no one will notice!