Argosy All-Story Weekly/Volume 186/Issue 5/Cinemagic
Cinemagic
All your ancient magics—genies, imps, and jinns
Popping out of bottles when you pulled the cork—
Cannot be compared to movie reels in tins
Flashing fairy filmplays, ’Frisco to New York!
In a comfy armchair—center, on the aisle—
I can sit enchanted, true contentment’s gage;
Humdrum daily problems vanish for the while
As I watch the actors on the shadow stage.
Do I yearn for South Seas? Crave my eyes the odd?
Laughter? Sadness?—all these mirrors of my mood?
Cinemagic wafts me to my Land-o’-Nod—
Time flies by unnoticed—no gray thoughts intrude!
Daytime leaves me dreary. Life has passed me by;
Yet night finds me eager, makes my pulses dance.
I am one of millions—millions such as I—
Thrilling to the screen’s vicarious Romance!
Robert Leslie Bellem.