black & white, nyc

i love old movies, glimpses 

of life before devices,

untethered social interaction

or, tethered by a dime

and a phone booth, outside

of the phone booth girls

hop-scotching or roller skating,

boys playing stickball

pedestrian traffic in suits or dresses

fedoras or high heels

taxis' horns beep-beeping,

policeman sans swat gear

directing traffic, all accompanied

by an orchestral score, or,

if cool enough, a jazz combo.

i watch black and white images,

listen to strings or saxophone,

nostalgic or wistful for 

what was, fully aware that life

isn't, or wasn't, so scripted,

not caring, enjoying the fiction,

looking for grains of truth.

 





Poetry by one trick pony The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 127 times
star mini Editors' choice
Written on 2026-09-18 at 22:19

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Editorial Team The PoetBay support member heart!
Your poem has been chosen to be featured on the home page of PoetBay. Thank you for posting on our poetry website!
2026-09-21


arquious The PoetBay support member heart!
Those were the days!
Lucky to get a glimpse of these every now and again.
2026-09-20


Albert Vynckier The PoetBay support member heart!
at least there were only whites and blacks in black&white movies
2026-09-19


Jamsbo Rockda The PoetBay support member heart!
I love old b&w films too. But from your description the ones I like are even older. They give a glimpse of life when things were much easier and laid back. Also the shadows in old films give great feeling to the scenes. You paint a good monochrome picture and I like how the last lines finish it brilliantly.
2026-09-19


Griffonner The PoetBay support member heart!
I could see the scenes your fine poem describes, and they are coloured by those old movies you describe. My wife and I wonder if it is a universal thing to look back in time with a wistful appreciation for its seeming simplicity! About a year ago I came across on old 'video8' tape, and sent it away for transfer unto a memory stick: Christmas 1988. I think we both shed some tears. It was a happy time... not that we aren't happy now, but I'm sure you will know what I mean. Here was looking back in time to the reality of what was. There's something more certain about a film you made yourself of your life in 1988 as compared with just the memory. Fabulous poem that brought all that back to the fore, Thank you OTP. Blessings, Allen
2026-09-18