Day: November 28, 2019

  
 Grandma Ley like many grandmas
 could put a scald on a chicken, 
 a high form of compliment,
 and her sticky cinnamon pecan buns 
 Were always a part of the delight
 Our visit there this time
 was just before Labor Day
 School would be resuming soon
  
 My brother Dan was excited
 He would start the seminary
 and learn to be a priest
 Grandpa’s brother Anthony
 was an ordained Catholic cleric
 Everyone thought that was nice
  
 Clem and Emma, my mom’s folks,
 were no strangers to squabbling
 The meal was on and as I say
 a wonderful chicken dinner
 Grandma had put on 
 what we like to call a winner
  
 Dan enjoyed it as though it was his last meal
 Then Clem noticed something and let out a squeal,
 “I see Margie’s little monsignor
 Doesn’t like chicken skin.”
 “Neither does Pope Anthony,” chided Emma
 Grandpa took a long sip of coffee
 “I didn’t know”, he said
 “I didn’t know that about Anthony.”
  
 We headed home after we  
 cleaned up and put things back in order
 Had a lovely trip 
 Many laughs about chicken skin
 You can imagine the rest
  
 Stanski
 November 28, 2019 ^
   

 
 We conjure up a picture of men, 
 women and children dressed in 
 their Sunday best gathering with 
 Indians dressed in beaded 
 ceremonial outfits sitting at tables 
 with massive amounts of food.
  
 There was no furniture in 1621 so 
 fancy clothes and dress would 
 probably not have been worn.
 There was no finery and with 
 the exception of knifes, no utensils.
 Fingers were useful tools
  
 We think of turkey, but not there
 Water fowl was plentiful, including 
 geese, ducks, swans, herons and cranes
 They also bragged about eels
 Pumpkin would have been stewed
 No sugar or flour for pies
  
 Cranberries are very tart without sugar
 Sweet potatoes were not indigenous to the area
 No ovens were available for baking
 Vegetables would have been 
 Cabbage, turnips and carrots
 They are sitting on the ground eating this
  
 We are story tellers
 Sometimes we make things up
 Then extrapolate to the ultimate
 We would like to remember the Pilgrims 
 sitting around tables sharing with the Indians
 It gives us a good feeling
  
 Pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, 
 turkey with dressing, 
 cranberry sauce, 
 potatoes and gravy
 Sorry, this was 1621
 Try boiled eel and turnips
  
 Stanski
 November 28, 2019
   

 The boy was working away like crazy
 Washing windows and making them sparkle
 He was “the man” and when you
 told him they looked nice
 his face, too, would shine
  
 He looked through those clean windows
 and saw others playing basketball
 in the gym and must have thought
 that it should have been him, so
  
 He stopped working; 
 walked in through the doors
 stepped down onto the floor
 He thought he was fancy
 the way he handled the ball
 He shot and made a lot, 
 but he didn’t make them all
  
 I told him he’d better come out and finish his job
 but he said no, it didn’t matter at all
 I told him it did matter and told him why
 He paid no attention, just a smile in his eye
  
 I finished his work, he played the play
 In the end to him, it was just another day
 I felt a little failure that 
 I couldn’t make him see the way
 I had a chance and gave it a go
 It’s up to him if he’s a show or no show
  
 The stain comes out in the wash
 He came in with a rush, feeling flush
 What will he do when he’s out of money?
 Bow his head, walk away, nothing is funny
 Wonder if he’ll look for me?
  
 Stanski
 November 27, 2019 ^
 An incident at the Baxter Community Center Clean Up Day 

 Music is not always needed
 But it’s nice 
 Especially in the middle of the night
 A little Grover Washington Jr. will do just fine
 Goes with the brandy, candles and
 The crackling of the fire
  
 You can find yourself in an alternate mood
 Take on the whole world
 All the problems, too
 Tomorrow will come and I’ll get started
  
 For now though
 I’ve got to tell you
 I have it all figured out
 I’ll prioritize
 Best way to go
  
 Morning will come
 Plenty to do
 No setbacks expected
  
 The fire is down
 Candles are flickering
 Brandy nearly gone
 It has been a great day
  
 As to morning time
 I can’t wait
 I’ll be there
 Front row, center
  
 Stanski
 November 27, 2019 ^
 Remembering my Godfather 
   

 Some people are clever
 They give good excuses 
 for things they did not intend 
 to do in the first place
  
 They were multitasking or
 praying to the Father for 
 enlightenment and when 
 none came they endured pain
  
 Much like falling from a horse
 they say, never having ridden 
 but sure a fall is painful 
 in fact they know it is
  
 They expound on what 
 could have been 
 If only they had endured 
 actually made the effort
  
 Now they speak as sages 
 congratulating you on success, 
 never mentioning your failure or 
 the many attempts you made
  
 They walk away in pride 
 knowing they are the light 
 that overcomes darkness 
 if only you had asked sooner
  
 They wish you well, 
 thank you for being soft hearted 
 request you to call on them 
 when wisdom is required
  
 Time runs short and 
 people move on 
 forgetting the unaccountable 
 wiping them from the slate
  
 Stanski
 November 27, 2019 ^