There’s a lot of lonely out here…
Oh I could be wrong.
Maybe people are just mean and angry, Stewing in raging silence.
I know they have opinions, I read them on the internet.
But not here.
Here on the bus they keep that shite to themselves.
The Bus
Sister
You used to call me Brother and sister I don’t know why.
Once you were my Sister but that is long goodbye.
There’s a scar above that blister and I know you’ve had it tough.
I don’t know how to let this go but I know I’ve had enough.
I’ve taken all I’m taking, all the rest I’ve left is yours.
There’s a message in the leaving, a hope for finding cures.
A Kind and Generous Man
She said, “You’re the most kind and generous person I’ve ever met. “
I said, “Then why do you tell people that I’m abusive. “
Her answer was at the ready: “Your kindness and generosity prove that you’re abusive because nobody could be that kind.”
OW!
Sad But True (2015)
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 Voice (1990)
The day the voice moved in with me, he brought his good friend fear.
Said ‘We all share your heart and soul you’ll soon forget we’re here.’
The day the voice moved in with me, peace and sleep moved out.
The addict he was at the door, and the voice he jumped to shout.
Said, ‘We like you we like it here, we know you like us too
And we know you’ll like our friends, cause true friends are so few.’
The voice would talk for hours about nothing much at all.
And all the noise would wake the fear and the drunk would wake withdrawal.
Years had passed in tears and stains and I had to kill the fear.
The voice he left in the middle of the night, said he didn’t like it here.
The voice returns sometimes when I sleep but he’s gone when I’m awake.
The strength it took to kill the fear was more than he could take.
And the drunk is with the addict and they live from coast to coast. And sometimes when I pray to God, I pray you’re not their host.
Singing, ‘We like you, we like it here, we know you like us too. And we know you’ll like our friends cause true friends are so few.
–Dennis Mantin
Shot Down (2005)
Another day, sundown.
Another night, sundown.
Orange to black, sundown.
Fades to midnight blue.
There’s nothing I can’t do.
And here comes the night
And I don’t know why
I hear your voice
And I lose my way.
Where are you now?
Can I touch you somehow?
You’re somewhere near sleep where images fade.
And here comes the sun.
Another night is done.
Here comes the sun.
And here I go again.
Saw the man, shot down.
Heard his voice, shot down . Eyes rolled white, shot down. Breathe goodbye that sound. Fades to midnight blue. There’s nothing I can do.
Another day shot down.
Another night shot down.
Orange to black.
Shot down.
Fades to midnight blue.
There’s nothing I can do.
DENNIS MANTIN
All Those Important Things
All those important things that I used to focus on…
Sports scores.
Getting high.
The drunken dances where I didn’t dance.
The partying!
Was it all a waste of time?
Certainly not!
All part of the journey…
Beauty Delusions
The fever broke mid morning.
After dreams that weren’t so bad.
The toilet held some swets and shakes
But not the worst I ever had.
I think the worst is over.
Only blue skies lie ahead.
Bright smiles from only loving friends.
If I can just now get out of bed.
A Thursday in the Future
There’s a Thursday in the future…
Hard rain is going to fall.
There is going to be a reckoning.
The wager will be tall.
It will be an all or nothing.
With no space for turning back.
The eyes will hold that look of fear.
Like a prisoner on the rack.
But for now it’s wine and roses.
Loaded guns behind locked doors.
In the distance there’s a silence.
In my head a battle roars.
Dennis Mantin 
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