My 7 year old tells me that if I date anyone, that she’ll never speak to me again.

“So my dating life is over?”

“Yes.” She answered.

“I’m kinda relieved actually… I was never that good at it anyway.” I offered.

“You get that from me.” She said. “I’m terrible at it. I tried the hip talk and the cool sunglasses, and nothing works.”

“Just be yourself and someone will love you just for being you… I think that might be why we’re so bad at dating. We don’t put on a mask. We just be ourselves.”Dennis Mantin

Having fewer and fewer conversations. Even those who I used to really get down and dirty with are now just reduced to polite sound bites.

How are you? I’m good thanks. Little puffs of next to nothingness… like farts in a storm, there and then nothing.

I have reduced this to a nod and grin from a smile and wave. Sometimes I can’t even muster a grunt.

I’m guessing it’s an age thing… The filters almost clogged now. As if speaking might release a grumpy old bastard.Dennis Mantin

I didn’t know what was needed.

I just knew that you weren’t sure.

Clear like a cool spring morning breeze.

Your thoughts were far from pure.

I stacked the odds against you.

Or at least you told your mind.

Seems the problem with illusions.

Good intentions are hard to find.

Wasn’t trained for right reactions.

That would satisfy your core.

You thought I used to much force.

And I thought I needed more.

It’s good that we can talk now.

It’s more than some folks do.

I’ve learned so much about this.

And a child led us through.Dennis Mantin

Is life worth leaving?

Is there a place to find?

Does it all mean anything?

Will some get left behind?

I am bound by duty. Sometimes lust and fear. If I look to far inside, will I get lost in here?It’s beauty and it’s terror.

It’s all about letting go. And finding just a pinch of faith and saying I don’t know.Dennis Mantin

A narrow path is a dangerous way.

The 5 main ancient virtues of the medieval knights were Temperance, courage, love, loyalty and courtesy.

The journey is treacherous at the noblest point of nature and spirit.

Maybe angels do dance on pinheads to make room for you and I and good and evil, darkness and light, fear and desire.

We know so little..Dennis Mantin

The city eats them up.

They lose their way here…

It shows in their faces that their brand of bullshit isn’t working; not with this lot.

Their eyes aren’t focused on anything other than the fear.

They will go down unless they find another way to think and be.

The city eats them up.Dennis Mantin

I knew there was a story and how the story goes.

With fragments all so shattered in the land of never knows.

Has no structure or beginnings but it’s all from Dad and Mom.

And steeped in disappointment, she’s banging on that drum.

All bitter with it’s rage behind a mask of smile.

She needed me to listen, I couldn’t spare the while.

I sometimes search my heart, would I repeat this thing I did?

It goes to yes each every time, if only for the kid.Dennis Mantin

I loved her for her beauty.

She was crazy, not for me.

I couldn’t fix that business,

From nineteen eighty-three.

Never said she danced with demons.

There were monsters in her head.

We don’t know Myth from fiction.

So we dance with lies instead.

She sure is nice to look at,

Maybe that’s the curse.

I’ve settled on alone for beauty

It couldn’t be much worse.

Dennis Mantin

It started on a Sunday, this idea I’m alone.

No one seemed to notice, all were busy on the phone.

I decided not to fight it, no sense in tempting fate.

Intimacy lacked sincerity, with conversation all debate.

She said that she found someone, I laughed meant as a grin.

I shouldn’t be so happy, but this loss feels like a win.Dennis Mantin

This is Eden… in this world of radiance. Shimmer shifts of visionary transformations.

It’s in God’s nature; and in the sun at the horizons; and in the awe and in the spirit of transitory metaphorical artists; that’s where we are.

Be still and breathe and watch and listen.

Listen… for words will fall short here.Dennis Mantin