Month: November 2019

 We hear of a need
 There are so many
 News stories from
 around the world
 speak to others plight
 And here we are
 concerned and helpless
 because we don’t have
 the solutions necessary
 to alleviate the problems
  
 We look at the Bahamas
 and also at Haiti
 We think, where is the Red Cross?
 Are they not the leaders?
 Getting to disasters and
 asking for our money?
 Waving their flag
 Selling coffee to volunteers
 Then leaving; leaving
 the mess for others
  
 Then we see the conditions
 that Haiti is still suffering
 Who gets the help?
 All of the money sent
 It must be the dictators
 We want to help, but
 do you send money
 that will be stolen or misused?
 Normally the answer is no
 but often we give in
  
 Answers seem obvious, but
 not easy to do
 unless you have the power
 to move people and equipment
 to the area of need
 Restore the landscape
 Get people back to work
 So many needs exist
 Often neglected, and
 for what reason?
  
 Stanski
 November 18, 2019 ^ 

 
 What do you do?
 The big game is 
 Interrupted by
 A severe weather warning
  
 The television searches 
 For a signal to no avail
 You find your radio
 The batteries are
 Still good, but weak
  
 You listen carefully
 For the announcers voice
 It is competing with static
 The game is close
 Nearing the end
  
 Notre Dame is trailing
 The Wolverines of Michigan
 By two points
 Time is running out
 Down to seconds
  
 Harry Oliver lines up 
 Kicks a career long
 Winning field goal
 Pandemonium 
  
 Bob Ufer exclaims in
 And excited but choked voice
 “From the heights of ecstasy 
 To the valley of despair,
 In four seconds”
  
 Stanski
 November 17, 2019 ^ 

 Waiting in the airport
 Is not much fun
 I watched people
 Passing by in the
 Delta County Airport
  
 Two nuns wearing habits
 A mother pushing twins
 A soldier on crutches
  
 Finally to the twin cities
 I sit and watched
  
 Two nuns wearing habits
 A mother pushing twins
 A soldier on crutches
  
 Time passed
 In Denver I waited
 Of course I watched
  
 Two nuns wearing habits
 A mother pushing twins
 A soldier on crutches
  
 I began to wonder
 I thought Benny Hill
 Had passed away
  
 Was someone taking his place?
 I waited and watched
  
 Stanski
 November 17, 2019 ^
   

 Can’t read
 Can’t write
 Can hardly speak
 Stay up at night
  
 Can’t cook
 Can’t drive
 I tend gardens
 Think I’ll survive
  
 Roosters crow
 I gather eggs
 Carry them in
 On rickety legs
  
 The sickly one
 Who is my wife
 Is ready to go
 Enough of life
  
 Days go by
 One by one
 Better hurry
 We’re nearly done
  
 Stanski
 November 17, 20l9 ^ 

 In real time we have to rely on the truth,
 so opinions are neither here nor there.
 They may sound good, once in a while, 
 but go for the facts if you care.
  
 So many times you hear the spew, 
 the cursing, the lies and the chatter.
 Others shout back and sound pretty good, 
 but what it’s based on is all that should matter 
  
 You often throw out an opinion, 
 when you don’t know the answer for sure.
 This is a commonplace, practical thing 
 and with it you can endure.
  
 Some voices are loud and talk over you 
 and you feel like walking away.
 But patiently wait and deal with the facts 
 and talk quietly when you have your say.
  
 You know there is anger and frustration, 
 but still they won’t deal with what’s real.
 Your job is to stay calm and help them, 
 that’s what will give you appeal.
  
 People want to change the facts, 
 they attempt to rewrite history.
 Why they base their hope on all of the lies 
 remains to us a big mystery.
  
 Lies repeated often enough 
 still are lies.
 In the end though, my friend, 
 it’s the truth that flies.
  
 Stanski 
 November 29, 2019 ^
  
  
  
   

  
 You saw them there
    on the lawn after church
 Having a smoke, 
    talking things over
 They knew each other 
    and they knew you
 They would wave, 
    give you the high sign
 Made you feel good 
    glad to be alive
  
 They’re gone now, one by one 
    to wave no more
 Replaced by those who follow 
    tugs the heart with a bit of sorrow
 The sons become older 
    and their sons, too
 It seems it’s us  
    who’ve become the old 
  
 We’re waving now 
    I and you
 To sons and grandsons 
    daughters, too
 Making them feel fine 
    that’s what we do
 As we mark our time 
    wondering
 Who’ll be next in line 
    when we’re gone
  
 There is no sign 
    no grand design
 Life will unfold 
    this story retold
  
 Stanski
 November 29, 2019 ^ 

 The time, before us, has you in wonder
 And sophistication now gives new meaning to primitive 
 You think of those who were here, having traveled 
 from the east across New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, 
 Indiana; settling in Michigan.  What was it like?
  
 How were animals kept?  
 Meals must have been an adventure 
 Trees to be cut and what tools did you use?
 How many small crosses marked the pathway of the journeys?
 Oh, the wonder and we complain when we 
 Walk eight blocks to school.  
 We do this without thinking about
 Those who cleared this path as way for these roads.
  
 How many men and horses were used to shape and grade? 
 At what pace did progress take place?  
  
 Kerosene lamps replaced by incandescent lights
 Telephones with all the wires and operators, too
 How did they do it we ask?
 There was that time when everything was done by hand
 You cut and carried wood; poured foundations with hand mixed concrete
 Now we drive cars to an office for acupuncture or 
 A massage to loosen sore muscles
  
 You wonder how as you order your load on a cell-phone while driving
 through a fast food lot.  
 How did they do it without all the gadgets and plunder?
 Horseback to the auto, Wright brothers to the moon
 Advent of miracle drugs, none too soon.
  
 They were the prime ones who showed the way
 We stand on their shoulders, we, the sophisticates of today
 We thank them, too, for their sacrifices and
 Lives they given for our freedom
 We salute them and stand up for them in gratitude
 For their gifts to us
 Now, we’re determined to do our part
 To do it without a fuss
 We are thankful
 This is our thanksgiving
  
 By Steve Haarman aka Stanski
 November29, 2019 ^ 

 It was summer
 Being home was okay
 With my siblings to play with
 All my chores to take care of
  
 Uncle Bill invited me
 To his home
 In northern Indiana
 It made me happy
  
 He gave me my own room
 Aunt Edna fed me well
 They took me places
 With my two cousins
  
 To the lake for swimming
 And town for shopping
 Also horseback riding
 The time of my life, I’d say
  
 It came to an end
 Life was over it seemed
 Back to the grind and
 What seemed like hopelessness
  
 Stanski
 November 29, 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