Cinemaio

the cinemaio shows movies 
                 in his empty theater 
     in the darkness of his cinema
                           despite the plague
                     the closure of all others

He sits in a plush velvet arm chair
                         or sometimes
unspools his legs onto the celluloid floor
             sitting in the back of the room
                 savoring the light and images
           as he used to do during normal times

He keeps the doors open to let la gente
            hear the voices and the music
                     maybe smell the light                
                imagine the stories being projected
               the flashes of light that are reflections
                                      that cinema exists 
                                 and the show must go on
                                                    
                     yet none dare come in 

Sometimes his Andalusian dog joins him
    not really understanding this moment 
                       of great difficulty
            that resilience which finds ways 
                         to get the rent paid 
                 so this light can forever play 

He has always showed quality films 
       will always show quality films
                   
Maybe just maybe he thinks
    they will dare come back
               after the plague
    the restrictions are banished
to this place crafted for life dreams
      thirsty for the pre-film aperitif
                hungry for theme evenings