I got lost in Mississauga in a car with air con and surround sound sound.

Listening to Love and Theft, Bob Dylan. There was a chance I might not be found.

There were no worries, no search parties. No smoking signals or orange flair.

I heard about Mississippi. And made a bet that you’d not be there.

I kept driving and found a freeway. Found some letters and familiar sign.

I never panicked, I just listened. I know now what’s yours and what is mine.

“I love Vietnamese culture. Proud, loyal, family… “

She told me, “Your words and your heart don’t match.”

I told her, “You don’t understand half of what I’m saying, so…. it might be just miscommunication.”

I knew she might have a point.

Maybe my words were just posturing

My actions are the tell

Ah, so much to learn…

The nights are getting shorter now…

If you watch you can see it clearly.

I don’t do this anymore…

Because I have seen it all before.

I watch her now from my pillow.

As the cannons and fireworks explode.

She smiles in the dark. ‘Happy New Year.’

I fade to somewhere else…

In the morning, the days are longer now.

I can’t tell for certain, so I make it up.

Fiction blurs with reality…

Oh, I will begin to work out again and stop.

Allowing the eventuality her due course.

Not yet, though…

Keep it going, Laddie!

The lawyers are back with retainers and affidavits, and all that legal mumbojumbo bullshit…

No, really, they’re so necessary to deal with the sick and unreasonable!

See how I’ve grown, Ma?

She is with me now.

How did this happen?

Legs intertwined-holding hands sleeping.

No one has gotten this close.

I am blessed, I guessed.

Who knows what 2025 brings?

The rage was in the pots.

Under steam, high-pressure lids.

Screaming at the environments.

And the past of grown-up kids.

When you’re a child, you are a victim.

As an adult, you’re a volunteer.

It’s time to turn down the heat and cool.

Look in the mirror and face the fear.

Dennis Mantin

My friend Bill said, “Have you recognized yet that you’ve been delagated to being a dinosaur?”

“You mean like from your children? They don’t listen?”

“Like they don’t even see you, let alone hear you.”

“Yes, I have… I’ve been taking my kid to task for just that.”

“Don’t take it personally. It’s our age.”

“Fuck. Really??

The longest night & the shortest day.

A quiet cold has the longest stay.

Inside, it’s warm and quilted beds.

I’ll be patient here, no booze or meds.

The shortest day has the longest night.

The mind plays tricks.  No need to fight.

I’m older now. The age it shows.

I’ve aced the fears and heaven knows.

A large gaping mouth set upon this gigantic head… Held up by a tiny neck, unable to swallow those desires…

The horror! The horror!!

Now I have the visual of the narcissistic view. They fear they don’t exist…