The world turned on a dime today.

A spinning whirlwind of a stage.

The writers and the actors strike.

Wiped my eyes to turn a page.

It’s so much ado about something.

What is that? Not abundantly clear.

My guess, it’s not AI, but money.

Planning for the future and the fear.

I’ve been feeling really tired.

Can’t get rested. I’m on the nod.

I’ve been consulting for solutions.

Still no mention for prayers to God.

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.

Having thoughts lots about dying.

And other things that I don’t know.

Its not the fear that’s got me down.

Just that I don’t want to go.

Now sure I know I have no choice.

Has been made abundant and clear.

This transformation is all the rage.

I just kinda like it here.

I hear all this complaining.

What’s wrong about this and that.

You never really stood a chance.

With an attitude like that.

It’s hard to pee with an erection.

To wit, I’m sure you guessed.

You forgot to put the seat up.

And the toilet is all messed.

It’s hard to pee with an erection.

The pee just trickles down.

It’s hard to pee with such affection.

Ever since you brought your love to town.

It’s hard to pee with an erection.

It is criminal that you’re mine.

And you clean with such perfection.

My dear, you are so fine!

I was caught up in a storybook.

Or it might have been a song.

Or it might have been her beauty.

Made me think I don’t belong.

I was looking for something somewhere.

And I didn’t know how or when.

I lied and said I didn’t care.

And still, the chances came again.

Then I finally got it figured.

Got caught up in time and speed.

Just take it in, enjoy it all.

And discard what I don’t need.

I nicked my sack while shaving.

In the shower thinking of you.

Found alcohol and then some swabs.

And a band-aid bright and blue.

I nicked my sack while shaving.

A first for me, it’s true.

From now on I’ll be more careful.

Oh, these things for love I do.

I can’t say I’m shocked. I didn’t expect less complaining. However, I did think there might be more gratitude.

I understand human nature for what it is: undeniable selfish.

I was told: ‘You will know a new freedom and a new happiness. You will be amazed before you are halfway through.’

Well, I must be nearing the halfway mark because I am truly amazed.

I watched her rise and fall over our sleepy little town. That dead rock in the sky, that shines over us all… Who knows the secrets here? Where? Where everyone pretends that nothing happens.

The warm salt waters of the Gulf Stream flow north from Mexico, along the eastern continental shelf, passed Cape Breton and beyond. Cold arctic air sweeps down over frozen tundra and bristles raised hairs on hunched backs, along Labrador and into the Northumberland Strait. Where these 2 meet is a spit of land that rises out of the Atlantic, just north of New York City, and is formerly known as New Scotland. It’s because of this; the north winds and the south currents that the conversations here are usually always about the weather…

To an outsider, it would appear as if nothing else goes on here but the weather. However, appearances are deceiving. Nothing is as it seems…

Reminds me of the old joke… A man from the city asks a fisherman, “What do you do around here for excitement.”

The fisherman smiles, ” In the summertime we fish and we fuck. In the winter, we don’t fish. “

When you are young with no one to confide in, you have a dilemma...

When the world is smiling and saying, “You can trust me.” And the world lies. You find out there is no one you can trust; save yourself… You can become consumed with the fears, or you can drink. I chose the latter.

In hindsight, I knew something was wrong with me, I just didn’t know what it was. I eventually found out that I was an alcoholic. What a relief. I thought it was something far more serious.

Even if I’d have known that back in the day, I couldn’t be sure that this would have made a lick of difference, for I was too ill-equipped and young/immature to face any fears.

This is why I have said that alcohol saved my life. It kept me alive until I was able to face life without it… and for that, I am grateful.

“The world is changing. Grinding on its gears. Seemingly to new sets of rules. People are afraid and confused.”

Opening line of soon to be published novel be Dennis Mantin…