The Anxiety of Exams

I’m watching her go through this anxiety of being tested: I had exams nightmares for decades after the last one was completed. This can not be isolated to just us, can it?

I tell her how little really rides on the success or lack thereof in the whole scheme of things… relax! I’ll still love you.

I really don’t care about marks on tests. I think it’s probably more important to learn how to navigate the problems of humans and their peculiarities.

Dennis Mantin

Wednesday

The gloom went on for hours.

Twenty-four are in a day.

We had stopped to smell the flowers.

The ones that didn’t wash away.

She said, “Just you count your blessings.”

I rowed hard and came ashore.

I said, “I don’t like our chances.”

So we left with just one more.

There are many ways to make it.

Probably more in which to not.

Some days, I just stay quiet here.

Cause right now, that’s all I got.

You say you have the answers.

As for me, I just don’t know.

Was a time when we had love.

And a time you had to go…

Dennis Mantin

Gloom

The rain fell down for hours.

The gloom it rose for days.

My dreams were from another time.

When we were parting ways.

To be stubborn is so human.

I can see it in the kid.

I see it more in you than me.

But I know what we both did.

You see, I found forgiveness.

I left you in that room.

I was dealing here with living.

You were wallowing in doom.

Dennis Mantin

The Lineup

The lineup is long for coffee.

The last tasty legal drug.

I’ve been leaning towards giving up.

Maybe after this one last mug.

There are rainbows at the skyline .

The sun is shining bright.

I’ve been thinking lots about the one.

That keeps it tight and right.

I hear that she got married.

No matrimony for me.

And I heard that didn’t go too well.

So I guess it’s wait and see.

CHATGPT

May arrived this morning.

With air, that’s still and cool.

No letters in the mailbox.

So I guess no change of rule.

The actors are still acting.

The writers are quite down.

The producers all are smiling.

CHATGPT has come to town.

Now, there’s no need to worry.

But there’s panic in the streets.

Sometimes when I pray to God…

I don’t plan for meet and greets.

Dennis Mantin

Ready

I’m not ready for that airplane ride.

To greet the dead and go inside.

To face all truth, I must confide.

Feel unprepared, I should have tried.

It’s not like my hands were tied.

The jokes were grand. I almost cried.

In fear or faith, we all reside.

The view was best at tall and wide.

Dennis Mantin