The Forlorn and Forsook

We are the forlorn and the forsook

Be forewarned

And pause

Look down on us and brace

State your intent and cause

And if you are within or without

The law

This may well predict our

Response and/or any movement

Either for or against

Be forewarned however

And stay your remarks be they

Kind or callous

Filled with good intent or malice

Stay your raised hand also

We have no need of handouts

Nor salutations

But silence as to our local predicament is

Appreciated

And may move you forward

As opposed to wayward

We the forsook and forlorn

Smile savagely

Grin ironically

We demand nothing but

Your undivided attention

Give us your span

Your faux heartfelt elan

So me might yet

Outlast the remainders

Those for and against us

Stay your advance but sit

Shed no tears

For the forlorn and forsook

By Daniel Smallegange, copyright 2026, all rights reserved.

Photo of the author in his backyard, May 15, 2026.

Bring What You Can Take and What You Need

I am a work of fiction

I am a work of fiction

Cleverly cultivated lies

Dancing on the spikes

Of those awaiting 

Crucifixion

Crucifixion

They don't like my choice of diction

But they are not keen on conversation

Those awaiting crucifixion

So

Bring what you can take and what you need

Bring what you can take and what you need

Come to me with speed

Come to me with speed

Bring what you can take and what you need what you need

The hammerers neither

But I am slyer

And catch the next bus

To Chicago

To Chicago

Where I will go to

Be myself

Sit and muse

Parlay with whores

Parlay with whores

As they seep me of my stores

In turn for advice

On what I should do

About the stye 

In my

Mentally prepared

Subconsciousness

Subconsciousness

You are not conscious but

You are not conscious but

Bring what you can take and what you need

Bring what you can take and what you need

Come to me with speed

Come to me with speed

Bring what you can take and what you need what you need

Despite the weather

My dirty laundry we will wash

Bring what you can take and what you need

Come to me with speed

As I wash away fictions

Predilections

So cleverly cultivated

Though they be

I will take pictures of our feet

No holes from nails here

And we will greet

Crocodiles and check their teeth

For bones and keys long lost

Their pedigree also

Feast on juniper trees

Building new fictions treasures and lies

Together

Together

Waltzing through streets

Through Cairo streets

Building new fictions and lies

Together

Together

Written by Daniel Smallegange, copyright 2002, all rights reserved.

Photo of the author early 2000s.

I just love fresh seafood. Comic by Dan Smallegange

 Copyright 2018 Daniel Smallegange. Written and drawn by Dan Smallegange

Like When They Only Give One Treat? Comic by Daniel Smallegange

 Comic written and drawn by Dan Smallegange, all rights reserved, copyright 2022.

I am very Proud to have worked on a show, as Props Buyer, which won an Oscar for Best Production Design. Congrats to Frankenstein!

Hurray, I can now scratch off my career list: Work for a show which wins an Oscar for Best Production Design (which Props Dept falls under). Congrats for Frankenstein Oscars to Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau. Also, Kate Hawley, who won for best costumes, Cliona Furey. Mike Micky Hill, and Jordan Samuel for hair and makeup. Yay. Here are some pics of props and things I was involved with and thought were cool. I personally ripped up and aged the flags and got all the weapons and horse gear for the battle field scene, which was one of my faves. And getting the books was another passion project as I love antiques and books and so does the director. #frankenstein #Oscars #GuillermoDelToro

I ripped and aged the flags, got the weapons, worked on canons and horses and gear.

I did the human organs in the jars.

The dead soldiers fell under props, along with gear and weapons like swords and guns.

My van on a typical day, haha.

Books were one of my favourite props to get as I love old books and so did Guillermo. These the Creature peruses and were on the shelf in the cabin scene.

Myself talking Canes with legendary Guillermo del Toro.

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.