Midnight Star

Happiness is a Christmas-present poem by my favorite film poet. Thanks so much, Richard!

Midnight Star

by Richard Jack Smith

A critic shouldn't merely reflect

What's easy for others to detect.

Betty Jo Tucker realigns

As the filmmaker captures and designs.

Her poetry expands and enlightens

Just as a scene brightens.

Her legacy dazzles as the midnight star

It reaches out to us from afar.

Studying the path least taken,

her words boldly awaken

concepts at the core

of human experience we cannot ignore.

A calm and welcoming neighbour

Taking stock of cinematic labour.

The film altered by such perception

A hero without the deception.

A Birthday Poem

My birthday today was filled with surprises! Thanks to my family and friends who made this particular birthday quite memorable.

A special thanks to film critic and author Richard Jack Smith for the poem below.  

The Best of Us: A Birthday Poem

Looking for an Ice Road Trucker?
Sign up Betty Jo Tucker.
She's the critic who tells it straight
Where other opinions emerge too late.

A love of musicals she has.
Of Shirley Temple, Busby Berkeley and jazz.
From her I have learned a lot
About the movies and things to spot.

She has a mastery of the poetic phrase
Her observations simply amaze.
An original voice
Because that's her choice.

That poem means a lot to me because Richard and I both include film poems in some of our movie reviews. In fact, Richard’s latest book is titled A Poet Among Critics,  and here’s what I wrote about that terrific book:

Richard Jack Smith writes poems with ease

about movies designed to please.

Plus even some he thinks fall flat

and keep him from tipping his hat.

A fine poet among critics,

rhymes and images he does mix.

His reviews earn two thumbs up

and a poetry Loving Cup!

***

A Poet Among Critics

Richard Jack Smith writes poems with ease

about movies designed to please.

Plus even some he thinks fall flat

and keep him from tipping his hat.

A fine poet among critics,

rhymes and images he does mix.

His reviews earn two thumbs up

and a poetry Loving Cup!

Here’s a tip of my hat to Richard Jack Smith for his amazing new book, A Poet Among Critics. However, in the interest of full disclosure, I have to mention that the poetry bug also bit me – and is forcing me to use poetry in film reviews too. But Richard’s book includes so many more poems than mine! And films of almost every genre are represented.

Because my favorite genre is “Musicals,” I’m delighted to see movies like Top Hat and Burlesque included. Next to musicals, I enjoy thrillers. Happily, the book also contains Richard’s unique poetic take on films like Nick of Time, Phone Booth and Psycho. Other genres are not neglected.  Sci-fi flicks, horror movies, Disney offerings, comedies, dramas, popular franchises and classics like Citizen Kane, King Kong and The General also receive careful attention.

Richard’s use of lush language helps make his poems come to life. Such remarkable visions he creates! For example, below are the last few lines of his perceptive, artistic Top Hat film poem.

Ginger Rogers, what a beauty!

Her moves creating ecstasy.

Black shapes upon room tone grey.

Suits and dresses so elegant, they say.

A cigarette held just so

before dancing on tip-toe.

A woman’s cheeky eyes

that love defies.

Leading to a romantic beat

and the audience cheering on their feet.

Those well-chosen words conjure up the 1935 Ginger and Fred Astaire musical romp, for sure. And A Poet Among Critics overflows with that kind of poetry magic. Well done, Richard!

NOTE: Richard Jack Smith writes film and soundtrack reviews for ReelTalk Movie Reviews. He is the author of two other books, Magical Movie Moments and Incidental Gold. For more information about A Poet Among Critics, please e-mail Richard at alton_333@hotmail.com.