Month: November 2019

 You never want to trust somebody
 Just because they give you their word
 They could be lying, just to set you up
 It happens a lot, don’t think it’s absurd
  
 You get called on the phone; offered a deal
 Just provide some upfront money
 Never hear from them again
 Don’t you think that’s funny?
  
 They drive their truck over your lawn
 And ruin one of your displays
 Promise to come back and fi it
 You’ll have nothing to pay
  
 Of course they never come
 Just having some fun
 At your expense and time
 You thought it would be fine
  
 You buy an original
 But it has a flaw
 Concealed pretty well
 Doesn’t faze you at all
  
 Then you try to sell it
 Something hits the fan
 Why do I let them hustle me?
 I guess because they can
  
 Promises made like fools gold
 Don’t really plan to get paid
 You knew the chances weren’t too good
 Forgive, release and don’t be afraid
  
 Stanski
 November 11, 2019 ^ 

                                                                                                                                                            

 What is life?  What is it about?
 You hear the stories, while
 You are looking at the bigger picture
 You wonder about:
    Cities buried in the desert sand
    Mount Vesuvius 
    Pillars of salt
    Half-empty downtowns
    Rat-infested cities
    War-torn countries
  
 What is life?
 The list could go on but
 My point is made
 Things out of our control
    Affect us all
 If we dwell on this
 We miss opportunities to lift up others,
    Even ourselves
 What’s the use?
  
 Life is a precious gift
 A genuine miracle given us
    To use wisely
 Possibilities are endless
 The course we take is up to us
 We have been taught by Him
 He has shown the way
 Follow His footsteps
 Life will unfold
 You will know
  
 Stanski
 November 11, 2019 

.
 My body is shaking
 I am not free
 And not at ease
 Conditions are bothering me
  
 I will walk in my garden
 The garden of my mind
 The frigid north wind 
 Tells me this is fine
  
 The garden is lovely
 Sunshine and fragrance
 Mild wind and a little dew
 Perfect time to dance
  
 I am all alone, except
 For my Shepherd
 A loved one, my angel 
 Is gone without a word
  
 My Brother stands by me
 He knows my low feelings
 He whispers “Be at peace”
 Words in my ears are ringing
  
 Master, should I wait
 He says, take your time
 I have plans for you
 Everything will be fine
  
 I miss praying with her
 Holding her close
 Just being with her
 Washing her clothes 
  
 Be patient my brother
 These things take time
 I can tell you my brother
 Everything will be fine
  
 I am brokenhearted 
 I know, He tells me
 I, too, carried a cross
 Just wait and you’ll see
  
  
  
  
 How long do I wait
 Until the end of time?
 Just until you work the garden
 And smell the fragrance of the pine
  
 Days, weeks and months and years
 I wanted her soon
 What is your time line?
 I hope when the moon is blue
  
 We walk some more in
 This garden of my mind
 Talk about many things
 How life has a line
  
 About our commitments
 Things I want to do 
 Changes in the community
 Beginning of something new
  
 I want her with me, Lord
 To walk by her side
 Share the joys and failures
 Let her be my guide
  
 Be patient, my brother
 Things will go your way
 You and your loved one
 Will have another day
  
 He looked a little tired
 Just as I felt it was time to go
 He gave me one last look
 Be at peace, you’ll soon know
  
  
 Stanski
 November 10, 2019 ^ 

 What is so hard to say, 
 that you can’t just say it?  
  
 Something that impacts one 
 that you have a great deal of care for 
 can be hard to say.  
  
 The truth that someone 
 may not want to hear 
 could be your truth 
 and not theirs.  
  
 Conditions and attitudes 
 are things that fall into 
 this area of thinking.  
  
 Who is anybody to put 
 a requirement on someone else?  
  
 What will be the impact and 
 consequence of doing so?  
  
 What are the 
 unintended consequences?  
  
 Do you become a victim 
 of your own doing
  
 It is wise to
 think before you speak
  
 Wisdom prevails
  
 Stanski
 November 10, 2019
  
   

 I am tired of the erudite
 Making all the claims
 Having many answers
 Appealing to their friends
 Questions never answered
 About deaths in Nigeria
 Infants starving
 Christians denied in Algeria
 Killed world over, 17 a day
 Iran’s influence in Syria,
 Lebanon, and Iraq
  
 They have answers about
 Building our southern wall
 Opinions on how bad we are
 Point to pictures years old
 They must have their say
 These important people
 When confronted with the truth
 They smile as they walk away
 The Pope has his own way
 He speaks and points and
 Scurries, taking no action
  
 People starving and sick
 The world over, while
 We could feed and clothe them
 If only someone cared
 We see pictures of sad eyes
 Know of mothers who exist on hope
 The mess our world is in
 Because dictators mislead
 Saying one thing for applause
 Then denying their people
 The erudite have no cause
  
 Stanski 
 November 10, 2019 ^
   

 Everything was weird
 Many things going on
 Playing games for money
 No one knows the rules
  
 Packing a trailer with necessities
 My brother couldn’t find his favorite chair
 Brought down three or four from some where
 Before he finally found his prize
  
 My friend won $76.00, but
 Couldn’t explain how he did it
 I got into the act and claimed
 $34.00 because the number on my 
 Second card was 32 and 32 plus 2 is 34
  
 Some guy named Dwight showed up
 Said we were safe guarding two 
 Sacks of cash for him and he wanted 
 To pick them up.  The lady who
 Helped him wasn’t present, so
 He said they were put in the breaker cabinet
  
 We opened the door and nothing was there
 The landlady showed up and 
 Dwight said that she wasn’t the one
 He had stopped at the wrong place
  
 I offered him some of my winnings
 But he declined with thanks and left
  
 Our trailer was packed and
 We headed out to leave
 Where were we going, I’ll never know
  
 Stanski 
 January 7, 2019 ^ 

 Same route, Highway 10
 About three dozen miles
  
 Gray, cloudy and cold
 Snow on the ground
  
 What a difference a month will make
 No sunshine this day
  
 I think of Henri Nouwen 
 His meditations on life
  
 During the good time and the bad
 It is all in the outlook; the attitude 
  
 We make of things what we will
 Sometimes to our glory
  
 Other times our demise
 How should we proceed?
  
 Does it depend upon the stakes?
 Or should we have a philosophy 
  
 That keeps us consistent
 Through thick or thin?
  
 The rides through life
 Take many turns
  
 They will never be the same
 Choices will be made
  
 Do we take the path less taken
 Or stick to the predictable?
  
 I wonder at this moment
 What would Henri do?
  
 Stanski
 November 9, 2019 ^ 

 The sun was shining this morning
 Fresh snow was just about covering the lawn
 Beautiful red leaves were dropping and
 Appeared to be ornaments on an evergreen
  
 I thought I saw some elves duck under bushes
 They don’t like being seen
 I felt like chasing after them, but
 They are too clever for that game
  
 I headed out and got caught up in traffic
 It took the peace I was feeling away
 People overuse their horns and
 Weave in and out of lanes
  
 Traffic lights are the great equalizer
 You might have the jump but
 The light changes and one stops
 Everyone catches up just as the light goes green
  
 A lot of cars had snow on them
 But the roads were clear
 Just slow down, take it easy
 Then there is nothing to fear
  
 Picked up supplies at a Big Store
 Then back home for repairs
 Got all of this under control
 Can’t think of any fears
  
 Time does not matter
 I set my morning goal
 When I do stuff incrementally
 I never feel like a burdened soul
  
 Stanski
 November 8, 2019 ^ 

 Furrows in the field
 Far as the eye can see
  
 Memory floods;
    How it used to be
 One man, one horse and plow
 Worked all day to do one-tenth of
 The vista before me
  
 I imagine red covered ground
    Sign of the blood they gave
 Making this thing work
 This thing called farming
    In acrid soil
 Sun up, sun down
 Worn out, staggering home
    With an equally beaten horse
 Who will be cared for and fed
  
 The misses out to meet him
    With hopes of good disposition
 Knowing that food and sleep
 Along with her love would help him
    At least she hopes as
 He must meet the new day
  
 Now racing by on interstate 94
    I see two-story tractors
 Computer programmed, air-conditioned 
 Plowing, tilling, fertilizing and planting
    All in one pass - - - water to follow in
       A synchronized, orchestrated way 
          As though this were the grand finale
  
 I stop at a cemetery; 
 Look at the names of those here before
 Study the dates and lifespans - - -
    Sick at heart because thanks cannot be given
 My tears, though sincere, can never sanctify 
    Their sweat, which flowed with dignity
 They did that on their own
 I leave in awe of what is and what was
 Knowing who my heroes are and will always be
  
 Steve Haarman
 August 13, 2014 ^