There is a heart shaped carve in rosewood.
There’s a line drawn in the sand.
I pray there on grace and wonder,
and there’s a baby, she’s in my hand.

There’s a virtue called forgiveness.
From a force we can’t see.
It’s how I deal with darkness.
Of how I feel when you’re with me.

I struggle now to hear you.
Seek approval in your eyes.
I hate you for your beauty.
Like I love you for your lies.

It’s a sad sad situation
Department sad but true.
You fear that they are coming
And you fear what they will do.

It’s a sad sad situation
Under heading sad but true
You fear that they are coming
No one is coming for you.

Dennis Mantin

I don’t know why my baby loves clowns.
Whose painted on tears never fall down.
I don’t know what she sees in their eyes
Perhaps the line between horror/surprise…

I don’t know why my baby can’t sing.
Why carnival music isn’t her thing.
It fills my head when I’m at the fair.
Searching for clues in clowns everywhere.

I don’t know why she screams at night.
I hope it’s not why she holds me so tight.
Because I’m the type I’m weak for love.
Carnival music I rise above.

Is it the pain or is it the tears?
For some carnival crime from yesteryears.
Maybe it’s you, maybe I’ll never know.
Maybe it’s me, baby let go.

(chorus)

Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the kings horses and all the kings men.
Tried and they tried but she fell down again.

Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
She went to her shrink ended up at the mall.
Humpty Dumpty wanted it all.

Dennis Mantin

The bad luck raised suspicions, on a path that was beat down.

No one dared to look within or see the wise men in the town.

It was happening for eons, as long as Grandad could recall.

Like a dark foreboding plank walk or a dream in which you fall.

Until the child spoke her words that, “Maybe somethings wrong with me?”

So we made a meeting with the Doc, down at Family Psychiatry.

The doctor raised awareness and we all took a look.

Things are looking so good now, might take Grandma off the hook.

Now life is far from perfect however the family’s not so sad.

Looking in the mirror, not blaming blind luck, good or bad.

Woke up in the mid-day.

Greet my bed at break of dawn.

There are some sounds like in a melee.

Woman appears with nothing on.

I wake up in a panic.

Confused, I dress, run to the car.

Not a moments hesitation.

Within a clue of where you are.

Then remember that I don’t care.

Somehow, this thought calms me down.

Now I’m back into the bedroom.

In the darkness to laying down.

Sleet crackles down upon the windshield. One degree to cold for rain. Blew the stop sign with a yield. Thought of you and back again.

It’s 3a.m. and black as Tuesday. They don’t have a cure for this. The accusations of a rude way. Where truth and lies could coexist.

The abyss appeared in all her glory. Speaks so sweet and knows your name. Are many ways to tell a story… Just one plot, it’s all the same.

All as pretty as a picture. All as calm and coasts are clear. They are looking for the sick cure. There’s not something like that here.

You are gone, and that’s the good news. Made it home, safe once more. The sleet is warm in pale blue hues. I will leave that at the door.

All are pretty as a picture. All are calm, and coasts are clear. All are looking for the sick cure. There is nothing like that here.

One word broke through our darkness in a storm at break of day.

Had no time to bake or worry. I was the one who got to stay.

No crime in fall or failing. The hand that gives can be the fist.

You seemed to lose your way there. Like a play in fog and mist.

She will only call for me now. All steps are set and clear.

I’m not saying I don’t worry. There is courage, then there’s fear.

Send you to another freeway. Send you back, and then you’re gone.

Send me no more thoughts or letters. Send and mute and off is on.

I don’t believe that I am alone in this… However, there is something empowering about being a self-righteous arsehole.

When you have someone dead to right in a selfish narcissistic moment of mindless self-indulgence!

Staring at their phone after the light turns green.

A family of 4 or 5 complete with strollers taking up the entirety of the sidewalk while casually taking up the entire sidewalk as they discuss plans for the day!

I could go on ad nauseum. However, I have work to do…