Oscar® Reflections

As poet laureate of the movies, I am pleased to write a poem about the 92nd Annual Academy Awards event which took place on February 9, 2020.

Congrats to wins on Oscar night.

Sometimes voters get Awards right.

Not always though. There was a year

when Garland’s snub caused me to jeer.

Another time Paul Newman missed,

and I remember how I hissed.

Enough bad thoughts. Let’s talk of now.

Who are the ones to take a bow?

Ironically, Zellweger’s win

makes me happy and want to grin.

It’s like redemption for Garland’s slight.

And almost feels like pure delight.

Phoenix’s award as Joker

no surprise to any gambler.   

Dern and Pitt, a pair of shoo-ins,

pleased most viewers with their two wins.   

Best Picture nod I won’t complain.

Read on, dear friends. I will explain.

Nominated films here were nine.

I think many of them are fine.

Parasite won Best Picture gold

and received cheers for being bold.

Gerwig’s film or Marriage Story

still to me deserved the glory.

Hitting me hard, sorry to say

Gerwig’s directing not in play.

Little Women, a masterpiece.

But men again owned that tight lease.

My wish for the next Oscar show:

A talented host in the know.

Bring Jackman back to entertain.

My interest then would never wane.

Las Vegas Lament

LAS VEGAS LAMENT

So many lives lost needlessly.

When will we learn; why can’t we see?

Tears for loved ones – an endless flow.

Action needed – we ought to know.

Some say don’t talk about it now.

Free speech needed for that, and how!

For Debbie and Carrie

Mother and daughter passed away.

But brightest stars they’ll always stay.

Debbie and Carrie earned a place

in our hearts and can’t be erased.

Their talent and wit made them great.

Entertainment became their fate.

Lucky are we who’ve seen their glow

which now shines on in TIMELESS flow.

Rest in peace, dear Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher. 

Ode to Dorothy Morris

Almost everyone who knew Dorothy Morris understood that she was smart and fearless. Personally, I knew she was smart early on because she married one of my favorite cousins, Frank Morris – or Mickey as all of his cousins called him while growing up together. And I know Dorothy was fearless too – because she married Mickey! But I also know she touched many lives. Whether at Liz’s café, which she ran for many years, or at family get-togethers, Dorothy was always a joy to talk with – and on any topic. Those are four of the many thoughts that keep going through my mind about Dorothy -- and they inspired me to write this little poem about her.

Ode to Dorothy Morris

Fearless and smart and lots of fun,

she lived her life -- with so much done.

Her family and friends galore

felt her glow and long for more.

But Dorothy leaves them all a gift.

For knowing her gave each a lift.

Her love goes on.

It can’t be gone.

Her glow shines on for those who care,

and in our hearts becomes a flare. 

Rest in Peace, dear Dorothy. You will be missed – but never forgotten.

Cinelife

C I N E L I F E

by

Betty Jo Tucker

Curtains open. The film begins.

Hero or villain – which one wins?

They fight within us every day

in how we act or what we say.

Our lives are like a big movie

that’s scripted by ourselves, you see.

Our laughs, our loves are what we choose.

But some mistakes we’d like to lose.

Forgive them all. It’s part of life.

They can be judged as human strife.

Ending credits begin to scroll.

Watch carefully for signs of soul.

Curtains close. The end is here.

Time for critics to boo or cheer.

This cinelife is now all through.

Another film will start anew!

Sandy Hook Lament

Children reading.

Children playing.

----- All is silence now.


Parents crying.

Parents praying,

---- getting through somehow.


People caring.

People sharing,

----- asking what to do.


All are grieving,

not believing

---- all this can be true.


Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the beloved victims who lost their precious lives in this horrific tragedy.