film class

for S.D.H

we never make a film in class but

read books by people who did

for cheap

we watch the freshman

and write a critical review

we watch the elephant man

and debate its indelible nature

we watch the hudsucker proxy

and discuss our own ineptitude

our professor says he knows people

our professor says great filmmakers grow

on trees

we graduate without fanfare

without red carpet or paparazzo

we go on to work in plumbing warehouses but

keep our knowledge of ikiru sharp

everyday subjects include

tankless water heaters and kurosawa films

these are the things we understand

the shadows and memories we learned

to command