It is drama in the kitchen.

Exaggeration on the phone.

Silence in the bedroom.

Until we are all alone.

It is drama all this bitchin.

Humiliation… no atone.

Beauty is just skin deep.

And Ugly goes to the bone.

I so rarely have a drinking dream…

That when I do, for me, these are events.

At the end of this August month, God willing; I will not have had a drink of alcohol or a drug of any kind outside of caffeine and aspirin for 19 years. Not in the Old-timers club but close.

[In the dream-I was at an event where there were lots of people, none of them I remember, and we were all sitting at large round tables: There was a meal and then people were dancing and I began to drink… and at some point in the dream, I shit myself (in the dream, not in bed), which I was totally unaware of until I saw the stains on the back of my pants.]

I remember feeling dreadful. Ashamed. Humiliation.

I woke up sober and with a fresh reminder of why I don’t drink.

The Villians all wore dresses.

Don’t say they were disguised.

It is more about fashion feelings.

Then, any plans that they devised.

There was a rumble at the diner.

No much more than throwing grub.

Someone didn’t like the service much.

So they left to find a pub.

It’s not about good or evil.

It is more like circumstance.

You might not be asked to join in.

Might be best to run than dance.

There must be something in the water.

A hazy smoke has filled the air.

The last I checked, this is planet Earth.

Spinning proudly without a care.

The demons have left the vineyards.

They’ve enrolled at computer school.

Hindsight being twenty twenty.

Humans are not hard to fool.

There’s no need to lose all hope now.

Please don’t offend and keep control.

Just tell them they’ve been conned later.

They won’t believe you to save their soul.

I finished off the census.

Questions like what’s your name.

With a claim of anonymity.

I had to hang my head in shame.

I guess I’m at that age now.

Where I believe no claim at all.

And I’ve resigned myself to destiny.

To watch society at the fall.

It would be like such an honor.

If it weren’t so dumb and lame.

It’s like Nero and the Christians.

Without the hero or the fame.

There were sirens in the distance.

I swear I heard one moan.

The sailors kept on boating passed.

The rocks stood all alone.

No world’s were worth colliding.

Each had lost their trust.

And no one knows the others’ plans.

Or who was the champion of disgust.

The dark clouds are all holding.

The drugs are sold and bought.

Games of chances are now folding.

Not much new is learned or taught.

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 sun is shining

Sunny Sunday

The air is sweet and cool

Gonna take my time

And go nowhere

Not going to play the fool

The gifts that come

To those who wait

You know they still may be

If they don’t

I’ll be here

No hurry wait and see.

Every now and then

If I’m lucky

Something happens-

That reminds me

Just how long I’ve been on this planet.

I watched this brilliant film for the first time 45 years ago in a theater (there were 3 people, including me watching that afternoon) in Halifax Nova Scotia. At the time, I was 20 and wasn’t sure what I’d just witnessed. Today, I rewatched this and have a much clearer understanding of what I’ve seen..

This film stands the test of time and is arguably the finest film ever made. Certainly the best war film?