I was walking in the shadows.
Cause I kinda like the cool.
Mama never liked the heat that much.
And would walk right past the pool.
I’m not inclined to leave that fast.
Sometimes, I like to stick around.
Spent some time there in the deep end.
Where some sinners felt they drowned.
There are sharks, and there are minnows.
There are vices, keep us froze.
I saw you dancing with your demons.
Smiling, spinning on your toes.
In the darkness, there was laughter.
In the night, I heard you cough.
I changed gears, started walking.
Was my time for stepping off.
I’ve been working on this nightmare.
The kind that smiled in your dreams.
So many ways to tell a story.
And not much is what it seems.
Dennis Mantin 
This is a wonderfully evocative piece. I love how your words carry a rhythm that feels both intimate and cinematic—like walking through shadows and light at the same time. The imagery of the pool, sharks, and dancing with demons is hauntingly vivid, blending vulnerability with resilience. Each line draws the reader deeper into the tension between fear and fascination, darkness and curiosity. The way you explore the interplay of hidden struggles and fleeting moments of clarity is striking. Truly a compelling, thought-provoking poem—thank you for sharing it.
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