Floating

I am floating now

Without purpose.

There is nowhere to go to

Nothing to see

I am void.

Purposeless.

It will take some getting used to this floating…

The cat is yelling at me to be fed.

The ferret has a look of need as I float past the cage.

My daughter will wake I’m sure in a couple hours and she will have needs…

And tomorrow there will be that job I go to .

But for now, I am floating without purpose.

Dennis Mantin

A Magical Day

The man at the coffee shop counter said to me smiling, “It’s a magical day. “

I didn’t feel like raining on his parade so I replied  “If you say so… a little early for such sentiment from me.”

He continued to say that the barista had a rabbit and he had a top 🎩.  The barista smiled at the comments and continued making my americano; and then shorted me $5 in change.

I looked at the ‘it’s a magical day’ guy and said, “You’re right! She made $5 disappear.”

He laughed. She blushed; corrected my change and I left.

The sun is bright and the air is cool 😎

Might be a magical day after all!

Dennis Mantin

The Murmurs

There are murmurs on the subway again. People are talking, however I don’t listen. It’s just background noise to me now… Generations have gone before them. I pretend I’ve heard it all.

They have ceased being silent, their fears are on hold, yet no one sits on the empty seat beside me. They all prefer to stand. I am tall and large and tattooed up, and yet my kindness somehow doesn’t shine through.

I heard Peter again this morning, ranting and yelling about some perceived crime against his serenity.

The downtown core hasn’t changed. Beggers and addicts rub shoulders with the elite and they are all headed south on the same train.

I am headed north to a place where I can clean my teeth and smile at the world with hopefully more enthusiasm and less disdain.

No one I know is holding their breath. I think of V often now. She is the happy Murmur in my head.

Dennis Mantin

Fad

My biscuits take on butter and my coffee takes on cream.

I’m bored with modern culture, and here I hold the scream.

I am curious and embarrassed to wonder what is next.

Like all anticipation when I’m waiting for her text.

She loves me but I’m doubtful, I know she has a fear.

I’m thinking about dying and there’s nothing quite that clear.

In a world of hope and wonder, there is something almost sad.

Like narcissists self importance when only mirrors are the fad.

Dennis Mantin

Love

After the birth of my daughter I never thought I would experience this again and yet here it is. It is an incredible thing to experience love.

This is no small thing this thing she has given me. Imagine that! And we have not even held hands…

Nothing more or less than attention and the ability to express honesty and be accepted without reward.

Dennis Mantin

Anger in Spotlight

There is something cathartic about watching or listening to rage.

I’m not talking about the incoherent rants of the Mad that are so prevalent on the streets of my neighborhood in Parkdale.

No I am speaking of the rages and real complaints that come from intelligence and the well spoken.

Certain singers come to mind: Marianne Faithful singing Working Class Hero or Why D’ya Do it?

Bob Dylan’s disgust at almost anything.

I seem to be a fan of intellectual rage.

Dennis Mantin

2 Lifetimes of Therapy

I started late in life. I was in my 40’s

She began in single digits.

This will go on for her lifetime; and that may not be a bad thing.

My therapy program is over. My therapist and I both came to the similar conclusion at the same time. “This is over. “

Someday I will report what she has dealt with. Words can be devastating when delivered by parents to their children.

Dennis Mantin

A Rough Day

She hit the breaking point yesterday.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke and  told me what her mother began saying to her beginning at the age of 4…

There are no excuses and finally at the age of 10 she has relieved herself of this burden and she has given this to me to deal with and hopefully dispose of.

She is in a safe place now and putting a spotlight on this, demonstrates that.

Good will come from this rough day I am certain. Good usually comes out of evil eventually…

I remember a few rough days…

Dennis Mantin