I was scratching at the surface
Perfecting living in my head.
So much the devil in the details.
More like the words you hadn’t said.
I am finding the escape route.
That may be here, but we don’t know.
I just know that if I follow you.
There’s nowhere for me to go.
So keep on what you’re doing.
Me? I’ll be just fine.
Meditate on that Mofu.
See you at the finish line.
There was peace in understanding.
Though all love was short supply.
There’s no sale without rebranding.
Somewhere deep, I had to try.
There’s no hope in no forgiveness.
You can’t stand in yesteryear.
You took it all. It was your business
And you hardly shed a tear.
There is no badge with all this honor.
Just the gold of peace of mind.
I don’t look the gift horse in the mouth…
You’ve been so much more than kind.
I was rolling in the darkness.
The winter turns to spring.
Not much more than plenty.
I guess I didn’t need a thing.
I see her growth in real time.
Sometimes, I witness all.
Take it in and keep in stride.
And just pray I don’t appall.
The light is on horizon.
I am almost out of bed.
There are reasons to be hopeful.
For less reasons than you said…
NEW BOOK RELEASE!
Look Them in the Eyes
Dennis Mantin. Friesen Press, 2023
There are thirty-two ways to write a story, and I’ve used every one, but there is only one plot—things are not as they seem.
Jim Thompson
Following the birth of his daughter, Jackie, middle-aged Zach MacIver is determined to stop what he terms “intergenerational transmission of family dysfunction” from plaguing his family. Over the course of two years, from the time Jackie is eight until she turns ten, Zach recounts his life experiences to her while attempting to navigate the obstacles created by her mother, Tina, who is experiencing her own version of intergenerational transmission of family dysfunction. The story begins during the COVID-19 pandemic when the world and its inhabitants face mounting daily trials and life-altering decisions. From there the narrative proceeds in a non-linear fashion as Zach recounts the roots of his own dysfunction and how his love for his daughter and his desire to be a good father forced him to face his difficulties head on. American author Jim Thompson once wrote, “There are thirty-two ways to write a story, and I’ve used every one, but there is only one plot—things are not as they seem.” This story is a great reminder of that.
Available now to purchase in eBook, paper, and hardcover from Amazon, Friesen Press, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Google Play, and Kobo.
ACCOLADES
Book I wish I could read again for the first time!
Dennis Mantin’s clean characterisation breathes life into the narrative, the realistic portrayal adds to the reader’s understanding of the book’s profound messages on life and people. What’s compelling about the novel is the the Protagonist’s journey, his perspective on “intergenerational transmission of family dysfunction” and how he’s determined to stop that from plaguing his family. The story is neatly told from Zach’s( the protagonist) perspective. It’s a non linear narrative with characters virtually jumping off the page. The characters, their presentation and Mantin’s unique writing style offer readers a fresh and deep perspective.
—Anuradha Basu, Amazon, November 21, 2023
Early morning on the Nightline.
Just after 3 :15.
The drunks are leasing moonshine.
The mood is catshit mean.
I’ll be working on the Fairview.
I am reading a book called ‘IT.’
The streets are lined with nothing new.
Just cigarettes, pain, and spit.
The Westward train is rolling on.
The sun is rising in the East.
IT is darkest before the dawn.
Where all beauty shows the least.
I was high on something natural.
Looking hoping down the barrel stare.
Daylight dreaming less the practical.
In the darkness saw you there.
Trippin Giddy, can I lift you up?
Trippin Giddy, can I be that strong?
Trippin Giddy, can I lift you up?
Trippin Giddy, is there something wrong?
I couldn’t leave a good thing alone.
Looking hoping like I knew the cure.
For ugliness down to the bone.
There is beauty there to be sure.
Trippin Giddy, can I lift you up?
Trippin Giddy, can I be that strong?
Trippin Giddy, can I lift you up?
Can you please tell me what went wrong?
I should have told you where you were.
Play the field where your smile shames.
Just a chapter where you might refer.
Torture dance spreading legs and names.
Trippin Giddy, I can’t lift you up.
Trippin Giddy, I am not that strong.
Trippin Giddy, I can’t lift you up.
Cause in your head is that you don’t belong.
Dennis Mantin was born in Toronto in 1958. However, he grew up in rural Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, where he was introduced to painting and literature.
Mantin left the east coast for Alberta in 1980 and landed a job as a nude model at the Banff School of Fine Arts with acclaimed American Painter and Sculpter Eric Fischl. Meeting Fischl opened his feelings and eyes to really seeing color and tone; even in the most unexpected places.
In 1992, after having returned to Toronto, Mantin dedicated himself to painting and had the good fortune to meet the extraordinary Canadian poetic Painter Paul Fournier, which ignited a lifelong creative friendship. With Fournier’s mentoring, Dennis mounted his first solo exhibition in an antique store in The Beaches neighborhood of Toronto.
After a decade of painting and exhibitions, raising a family and life circumstances forced Mantin to give his attention elsewhere.
In May of 2014, Mantin renewed his relationship with painting and was invited to share Paul Fournier’s studio, which culminated in a solo exhibition at the Abbozzo Gallery at 401 Richmond Street. The exhibition was called The Meditation and alluded to Mantin’s recent interest and dedication to the practice and study of mindfulness Meditation.
While working on The Meditation, Mantin was encouraged to reexamine his writings, which stimulated a revision of a short screenplay from 20 years earlier.
The short film, a 15-minute drama entitled The Meditation, was written, directed, and produced by Mantin in 2017 and featured world renowned actor Jonathan Hyde of the Royal Shakespearen Academy. Jonathan won best supporting actor at the Top Shorts Online Film Festival, and Dennis received an honorable mention for narrative at the same festival. The film received the Award of Excellence from the Canada Shorts Film Festival in 2017.
Dennis started his WordPress blog in 2013 and has over 2000 posts in the decade that followed.
In the autumn of 2023, Dennis will publish his first novel, ‘LOOK THEM IN THE EYES’ with Canadian publisher Friesen Press.
Dennis is a single father, currently living in Toronto with his 12 years old daughter Zylia and their cat Ned.
Dennis Mantin
A dory is a small row boat used by fishermen.
I knew we were in trouble when I couldn’t get Dexter to sit down as he tried to untangle the net, rocking the dory; taking on river water.
My warning,
“We’re going to sink if you don’t sit down . ”
This seemed to fall on deaf ears.
I remembered Harold’s wise words.
“If you think you’re going under, remove your rubber boots, or you will drown.”
I was sitting in my socks in the middle of the river, bailing water with a rubber boot as the dory disappeared beneath me. We had reached the tipping point.
The Atlantic Ocean water is cold in late October and adds weight to sweaters made of wool.
I heard Dexter splashing. However, my main focus early on was to not get tangled up in the net. When I was sure I was clear, I was dog tired and decided to allow my body time to recover for another push to shore. This required holding my breath and allowing myself to sink to the bottom Deception River.
It was here in the estuary with approximately 10 feet of the Atlantic Ocean over my head that I realized that it had been perhaps decades since I had prayed and this might be an opportune time to return to the practice. The prayer went something like this.
“Dear God… If you get me out of this; I will never drink again. ”
I pushed off the river bottom and swam towards shore in the darkness. I remembered Persy’s warnings,
“Don’t panic… to panic is death.”
I sank, stayed calm and reached dry land .
Dexter yelled from the opposite shore.
I sat for a moment cold and grateful to be alive and thought to myself… If I don’t get out of here, I’m going to die.

Dennis Mantin
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