Each year, with the Oscars upon us, I miss working in film. But, really, it’s watching movies that I most enjoy, that feeling of being sucked for a short time into a different world. And regardless of where I am, of what I’m working on, I can still relish that pleasure. A movie ticket is a remarkably inexpensive luxury. And I can call entire libraries of them up to my home TV screen just by clicking play.

“Hippos on Holiday”
by Billy Collins

is not really the title of a movie
but if it were I would be sure to see it.
I love their short legs and big heads,
the whole hippo look.
Hundreds of them would frolic
in the mud of a wide, slow-moving river,
and I would eat my popcorn
in the dark of a neighborhood theatre.
When they opened their enormous mouths
lined with big stubby teeth
I would drink my enormous Coke.

I would be both in my seat
and in the water playing with the hippos,
which is the way it is
with a truly great movie.
Only a mean-spirited reviewer
would ask on holiday from what?