Day: December 6, 2019

 CHOOSING THE WAY
 We speak of troubled waters and how
 advancing at this time would be futile
 It would be easy to quit; throw in the towel
  
 Looking about we see many doing the same
 There is wonder at why this is happening
 Are we not the beloved children of God?
  
 But were we ever promised an easy path?  Or were
 we warned about the heaviness of the cross?
  
 Wasn’t this the path that we chose?
 There was no hesitation when it seemed 
 nothing was at risk, but now our emotions are upset, 
 we detest our weakness and
 self-loathing pushes us to the point of self-destruction
  
 We forget about forgiveness and goodness
 Free will is a gift and we have the honor of choosing
 The question is will we choose an easy way out or
 stand firm in our convictions to build 
 a bridge over the troubled waters?
  
 The truth of who we are will prevail.  
 It is inherent and nothing we thought will change this
 We are part of a bigger truth which we cannot abandon 
  
 This is our time and identity; our feelings will change, 
 but our convictions prevail
 We are children, continually learning
  
 Looking for substantiation of our convictions
 Praying for strength to stand firm on them
 Knowing we are part of a picture bigger than ourselves
  
 Stanski
 December 6, 2019^
   

 Goodness is sought after, but not necessarily apparent
 The edge of the coin may be the pathway
 Still evil may lurk, even there, before us
 We must be constantly vigilant 
  
 The coin has two sides, one is not good, the other the same
 Both sides are mostly evil with some small evidence of virtue
 Our walk through life takes careful plotting
 If we aim to live it in wholesomeness
  
 We must stay strong and have an attitude
 Knowing about the darkness, we must seek light
 Darkness will never overcome the light so
 We will never have to present an excuse
  
 To live decently is to be filled up
 No effort in helping others is too low for us
 Joy in doing, overcomes sorrow in not doing
 Saying yes is much easier than saying no
  
 There may be many worlds in the vastness of the universe
 We should strive to be the best of all places
 Not knowing for sure, this possibility has us
 In conflict with other people perpetually
  
 Power is sought after continually and
 Changes hands frequently over time
 No one will ever achieve total power
 The light is too bright for this to happen
  
 We humbly move forward in our living
 Walking hand in hand with nobleness if we can
 Our actions are tools to teach others
 And often requires the carrying of a heavy cross
  
 Stanski
 December 6, 2019 

 Waiting there at the stop
 I knew I had some time; there were many cars
 The train was very slow in moving
 It looked like it was very long
 I wasn’t in a hurry
 That would do no good

 Oh, we’re sorry mister
 We’ll just skip along here quickly
 We’re sorry
 We didn’t see you
 No problem I said back to my imagination
 I’ll just look at the art

 There is a lot of it to see on these boxcars and tankers
 I wonder who those artists are
 I know they didn’t dip their brushes into their soul
 Oh, they have souls
 They don’t have brushes
 They have cans

 Cans of spray paint
 Fumes will be inhaled
 Then their psychedelic minds take over
 They spray their soul
 They spray their hopes
 They spray their nature

 Oh, you lovely cars, you can’t contain your beauty
 You may be empty on the inside
 You may be filled
 On the outside, your pictures 
 Can make the lovely willow weep
 You make me weep
  
 Stanski
 December 6, 2019 ^
  
 With a tip of the hat to Henry Ward Beecher, who wrote
 “Every artist dips his brush in his own soul,
 And paints his own nature into his pictures.”
  
   

 You have heard the call
 The troubling call to make the choice
 Unplug or carry on
 The brain is dead 
 You feel that way, too
 But, yet, it’s up to you
 Shoes are on your feet
 Life is not so neat
 You make the call, “unplug”
 The final call, “unplug”
  
 We, so smug, can tell you
 You were right or wrong
 While not looking at ourselves
 As we make similar calls
 To a lesser degree of course
 But impactful and final
 At least for today
 We say no to opportunity
 Sorry, I can’t help
 Now is not the time.  
 Sorry!
 It will have to wait
 We don’t have the time
 We don’t have the money
 It’s not convenient
  
 No eye contact made
 The minor unplugging
 The taking away
 The breaking down
 Denial!
 Death by a thousand cuts
 Oh, yes!
 We all know this guilt
 Pull the plug
  
 Stanski
 December 6, 2019 ^ 

 Compelling and different
 Ten minutes until destiny
 Twenty-five years until liberty
 The Guy was waiting for his cue
 Surprised while waiting there
 Thinking about how the lights
 Were so bright and penetrating
  
  He noticed the salon mirrors and
 The advantages of viewing
 No eye contact necessary
 It was easy to keep low
 Sweeping was his game now
 While waiting for his signal
 Curious by nature was he
 Puzzled too by the floor’s vacuum vent
  
 He noticed it accepted most hairs the same
 While jotting this down he looked at the boss
 Viewing the mirror, 
 He saw she was behind him 
 Take a look, Guy.  
 We’ve got some flies in the front
 I’ll check it out said the Noir-man
 He remembered the vacuum vent and all the hair
 Guy went to the basement and did so with flair
 Extending the system he turned on the switch 
  
 Flies vanished like hair
 The Guyster just smiled
 He hadn’t felt this good for quite a while
 It was then that he got his call
 I’m off to Sabrina Lane
 There is a dental problem there
 I’ll keep you informed, 
 That’s what I’ll do
 Not to would not be fair
 The boss waved and smiled
 Guy Noir was quite the guy
  
 Stanski
 December 6, 2019 ^
  
  
   

 All the things you're missing
 Are out there somewhere
 It’s best sometimes to leave them
 Unless you really care
 What good are they anyway?
 If you really want to hear
  
 That stuff isn’t current
 It’s out of vogue 
 Not up to the task and it’s what goes today
 That makes you click
 Maybe the stuff of dreams
 The things you used to long for
 Made all the difference
 Or so it seems
  
 When tomorrow comes and you look back
 You’ll still see things you care about
 But never so much my friend
 To make you want another bout
 It’s what you are today
 Not what you were once before
 Don’t dwell too much on yesterday
 There might be knocking on your door
  
 Time runs short
 But there is still enough
 All you have to do is start
 Turn things around
 Start living
 Take over the present
 Before you part
  
 Stanski 
 November 6, 2019 ^
   

 We say resolved and resilient 
 After facing adversity
 People may have died
 Or had property damaged
  
 Community comes together
 Churches open their doors
 The Stars and Stripes become
 Our symbol again for a while
  
 Things settle; the grieving and
 Coping have taken place
 But nothing is forgotten
 Life resumes until the next time
  
 Stanski
 November 23, 2019 ^ 

 Sometimes you lack experience
 Meaning a second string quarterback
  
 And then on the next play 
 He throws a touchdown
  
 I think of the announcers
 Wonder then who needs experience
  
 They need practice on how to go through
 The game without being redundant
  
 How many times must they say
 Backup quarterback or tell us
  
 In advance what the next play will be
 When it is obvious to most. The game goes on
  
 Chatter continues;
 The band plays
  
 Everyone is happy
 No experience needed
  
 Stanski
 November 23, 2019 ^