There is a Fine Layer of Dust, by Daniel Smallegange.

There is a fine layer of dust

Covering you almost entirely you

Fine layers and fine print

A fine mess

And look at you looking

With those wet eyes so big

Shake yourself rise up rise up

At least enough to

Shake off some of the gathered detritus

This debris there's bits of plaster too

Coating you, fallen down

From this house once great you built

Now slowly crumbling

A fine mess indeed and murky viewings

Prospects seen

Through windows smeared

But what was once glorious

That is where your head lies now

Behind

And look at you looking

With those big wet liquid eyes

Rise up rise up

Shake off this dust and gathering mold

At least at least

Before you settle once more

To view the past

And reminisce

By Daniel Smallegange, copyright 2026, all rights reserved.

Photo of the author, circa 2010ish.

I Crushed a Can at Midnight, by Daniel Smallegange

I crushed a can at midnight

And I sunk too deep

I thrashed around to music

While all the gods did sleep

Dancing with the stars

Fronting like a Tsar

An island on my own

Hissing at the flames

Begging for the rains

While I crushed a can

I crushed another

It was then that I

Began to wonder

How it all began

Where it was she ran

And how the times do change

Until I danced this free

I sang for solace and revenge

Alone alone at midnight

Where I crushed a can

I crushed and crushed and crushed them all

Until my vision swam

I railed and cried and gnashed my teeth

Coughed and puked and staggered

And then I took to swagger

And walked the pain away

Until the moonlight

Ran from me like rain

And the dawn arrived

To whom I crushed another can

By Daniel Smallegange, copyright 2014, all rights reserved.

Photo of the author, approx 2010, Toronto.

In a Certain Light, written by Daniel Smallegange

In a certain light

In a certain view

I can see and contend

Exactly with you

With what you say and

What you mean

All you portray

What to glean

From all your frontings and fixed countenance

Your damn gloating and false pretence

Such effortless allure I wish I could procure

Lovely contours also you can imprint upon me

Anytime night or day

However and when

My point of view shifts

When I stumble or fall

Everything is less focused

More obscure

And the truth of you

Shines as through an open door

That's quickly shut

So this blurs and fades

Shades of light

Yellows and grey

But your silhouette remains constant and

Pulls me your way

I orbit you like some doomed planet

Caught heavily by your sway

But it's difficult to

Read through the lines

Divine truth from lies

However and ever

In a certain light

In a certain view

I can deal and contend

Exactly with you

So, long may it last

As good as it can get

After all and as they say

There's still life in me yet

Written by Daniel Smallegange, copyright 2026, all rights reserved.

Pic: I am in the centre, with a couple friends at a bar, from many moons ago.

Home Sweet Home, Comic by Dan Smallegange

 

Comic by Dan Smallegange, all rights reserved, copyright 2023.

DAN (This is on the shelf by my stairs :)

 

There She Was, Dancing in the Moonlight

There she was and standing tall

Dancing under the pine trees

In the moonlight

The night was cold and brisk and clear

And my glasses were fogging

I wiped my brow and squinted low

Rose to my full height

And realized now

I'd forgotten my dance shoes

But still with a will and desire less brave than foolish

I moved forwards the light

The damned moonlight

Clearing my throat

My sweater felt bunchy and awkward

But there I was and there was she

Dancing under the pine trees

Why are you dancing, I asked

And to what tune?

I dance to save myself and others, she said

The tune is on the wind

Oh, I said

Oh oh, said she

My glasses I removed and used my sweater to unfog

Though this was not recommended, the wool you see can scratch

But what was one to do

Besides I thought it looked cool

And then she paused in her dance

And gazed upon me

Under the pine trees

In the moonlight

Want to grab a bite, I said

I could eat, said she

And so off we went

Away from the pine trees

And the damned moonlight

To an all night diner on 32nd street

By Daniel Smallegange, copyright 2026 all rights reserved. No AI used ever!

Photo of the author, along the Thames, early 2000s.

Is it Okay For Me to Love You, I said.

 Is it okay for me

To love you, I said

No, she said, straight away

Without even thinking or flinching

It isn't now, nor ever shall be

Okay for you to love anyone

Let alone me

What gives you the right

To even be rejected?

You who are so low

And beneath my gaze

Be gone and

Get away away

Stay the hell

Away away

From me you low born beast

And my future, hopes and dreams

Stay away you scoundrel, you hopeless fool

What gives you the right

To love me anyways?

She said all that

And then she laughed

Her laugh was musical

Beautiful

Cruel

A cure to what ailed me

In the end

By Daniel Smallegange, copyright 2025, all rights reserved.

Pic of the author, circa 2020 approx, Ontario, Canada.