You know she tried to fool me, tried to dance me to a lull.

The boredom overtook me and her knife was just as dull.

There was a strangeness I was feeling. Somehow thought that she might cry.

I feel just like that spider… in that story, where there’s that fly.

I looked upon the opioids: for just a second I felt the nod.

There is a voice of wisdom, sometimes here, I just smile and thank my God.

I left her with a warning said, “Best I go and there I’ll stay.

She nodded in the morning, when night ends to start the day.

My skin was dry and peeling, flaked, worn and beat down.

But I stumbled on a savior, the moisture gal came to town.

Was selling creams and steam machines for a world that has gone dry.

I paid her cash and smiled at her, and she winked with one good eye.

Now I’m feeling fresh and perky, hydrated and a glow.

I told her to come back again, next year, win, place or show.

Alice is in Chicago.

She is in the crypto game.

I am in Toronto.

Trying not to wear that shame.

I was thinking deep thoughts.

And taking coffee with my creams.

A man with some face tattoos.

Is not as crazy as he seems.

Julie’s coming here for Christmas.

I just hope to stand that tall.

There’s so much to do here now.

I need some, but don’t need all.

Another day of plenty.

Someone spoke attraction laws.

And I was dreaming sweet dreams.

And not complaining, just because.

The kid she turns eleven.

This week is grinning ear to ear.

She says that she’s happy now.

Says that she likes it here.

I swear I heard a buzzing.

Must be coming from that phone.

Think someone there knows my name.

Let’s me know I’m not alone.

I hear that humming and the sound.

That’s coming from the air and ground.

I take it in…

And let it pound…

Away .

There’s a place that’s near I hold.

It’s precious and it’s mined like gold.

I take it in.

To make the mold…

Like clay.

Some suffer for the art.

Swallowed whole or tore apart.

They took it in.

And from the start…

They say…

“Suffered much and paid the price.”

They exaggerate; they rolled the dice.

They took it all.

And risked it twice…

They say…

“I hear that humming and the sound.

That’s coming from the air and ground.

I take it in.

And let it pound away.”

Its nice when your family are also your friends. I’ve had it where this wasn’t so…

My daughter is my best friend. She turns 11 this week. I enjoy every day with her. She is and continues to be a delight!

When she was 2, her first full sentence to me was: “You and I are like best friends. “

This continues…

I was a boy when people asked me…

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

‘Unafraid.’ I thought.

“I don’t know.” I answered.

I just wanted people to stop hitting me. I just didn’t want to be afraid all the time.

I grew tall and people asked me.

“Why are you so angry?”

“Why do you drink so much?”

“I don’t know. ” I lied.

I am 58 years old and I am a father and I know what I want. To teach her and show her love and support her and be her friend… and paint and make films.

“I will tell story.”

Said I.

Dennis Mantin

A rich man drives a taxi.

A poor man drives a Ford.

But my old man

Goes down the street

With four wheels on a board.

MARGARET MANTIN

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

The sentence was death by boredom. The virus spread the earth.

Madness rained down upon them.Like some monsters giving birth.

They handed out free money. The kind that makes you soft.

And nearly jumped out their skin. When someone smiled and coughed.

Then Dylan put out an album. With a song called Murder Most Foul.

That sounds as disgusted as I feel. Like the purging of a bowel.

I’ve learned to take the blessings and take them as they come.

He is at another level, a bit too much for some.