New Times

Got me some at least

Tryin' to grab a hold of at least

Some of these new times

Sky lines are prettier than

Better than the old times dark times

Better than nothing or at least

Some times

Gotta start somewhere

Can't start these new times without letting go of the

Old times bad times

Got to get me some much needed

Down time also

Keep down low from all those less prudent

Hopes and schemes

Fears and dreams

Keep my head down

Can't help but realize

Ain't got the low down

Downtown

New times give rise high rise

Sky lines

Prettier than

Gotta start somewhere

Not like the old times

Need me some distance from past crimes

Don't want to dwell on no bad times

Don't want to do no hard time

Either

For old crimes old times

Need me some direction to

Go an' find some

New times better times

Also commit some new crimes

Get me some at least

New times

But not like the old times

Not like them

Dark times

By Daniel Smallegange, copyright 2025, all rights reserved.

Polaroid of the author by Rachel Brennecke, Amsterdam, early 2000s.

First Fire of the Year. Happy Autumn from Toronto

 Lovely to have a glass of wine and sit by the fire and write. xoxo dan s.

Fish Comic by Dan Smallegange

 Written and drawn by Daniel Smallegange, copyright 2018, all rights reserved.

A Still of me from a Short Film, The Officer

Photo: by Blake Morrow, a still from a short film, The Officer, I co-wrote and starred in. Directed by Jonathan Stanton.
 

Down by the Shed (Where all the Demons Head)

 I want to

Greet you and meet you

Sweep you away

Take you down to the shed

Down to the old shed

Where all the demons head

Where they dance and plead victim

Where they drink and seek wisdom

And none know what's in store

Chastisement parked abandoned

Outside the door

Come here sweet mystery

And climb into my head

Let me take your arm

Down to that old shed

Where the merry are led

Where the demons head

To drink away their pain

And seldom do abstain

Down back near the old creek

Where it's dark and warm

Where all are safe from harm

I need to see you

By bonfire light

Sweep you away into the night

Take you down

Down to the old shed

Where all the demons head

And no one speaks of the dead

But of life, and where Bacchus rules

The dance is free of Christian loathing

Dancers soon bereft of clothing

Sweating and gyrating to the horns of Pan

Baby I need to

See you and press against you

Take you down the secret ways

Down to the shed

Where all the demons head

Libations for the duration

Leave your troubles at the door

Pound some drinks and hit the floor

Back down to the shed

Where the guilty have all fled

And innocence is all but dead

By Daniel Smallegange, copyright 2015, all rights reserved.

Cat, drawn by Daniel Smallegange, copyright 2010, all rights reserved.