and brutal was the nature
of adversity—
so compressed
and ruthless-
ly cut
the montage
of our troubles—
that, stock
plot or not, sooner
or later
it became easy
to convince ourselves
we were living
through a movie.
First, as protagonists;
later, as actors;
and finally,
as popcorn
munchers staying
for the credits
and only just
now dimly
trying to summon
the effort to stand
up and exit
the theater.
