Pod

I love taking the grandkids
to a movie,
one or two or all of them,
sitting in a line,
trading candy,
passing popcorn.

I don’t care much about the movie,
but they enjoy watching it
and I enjoy watching them,
lights reflecting off
their beautiful engaged faces.

I watch their expressions
as they get lost in the story,
laughing so sincerely,
big eyed in anticipation,
wiggling in their seats,
whispering to one another.

I usually fall asleep for a bit-
the darkness,
the contentment,
the predictable plot.

We are all just here together,
our little pod,
these dearest ones,
insulated by darkness,
contained and safe
for an hour or two.

And then,
candy long gone,
sated on popcorn,
the credits roll,
and it is over.

We gather our things
and off we go
into the blinding light
of the world.

By Maria Brady-Smith