Month: December 2019

I visit old friends who are right up there in age
And newer, younger people who can carry on
A conversation about the world in general, how
things are going and the condition of us as a
people. One thing in common is the disgust
they have for professional athletes who have
a disregard for the Flag of our Country. They
speak of friends they have lost in war and
cannot believe that these millionaires stoop
so low in showing their disrespect.

I stopped watching sports is a common statement
Who wants to watch all the carrying on and the
fancy dances after they score. Some of the better
coaches have said to act as if you have been their
before. In basketball the clowning and antics
take away from what once was a great sport to watch

The young and old are tired of the way morality has
been broken down in movies, television, books and
advertising. Affirmation is given to bad behavior
Politicians are guilty, judges are guilty as are
Teachers and clerics. Political correctness is said
to be a farce. Drug abuse and a disregard for
decency add to their frustration

I wish we could all adopt respect for each other
Learn to be tolerant and abide by the Golden Ruld

Stanski
December 21, 2019 ^

The thoughts we have as we travel
from one place to another
each of which we can call home
and are comfortable while moving along

No apprehension, anxiety or nervousness
as we look, when we can, at
the beauty nature has given us

Sunshine flows into the woods and
the interior is plainly visible
Wonder is the only word

We as the present humans
have a high regard for ourselves
We wish to claim responsibility for
the spectacular

In reality we are nothing and
have been here for just a speck of time

I think of the pictured rocks in Munising, Michigan
They are somewhere, according to the experts,
between three and five hundred million years old

Hard to get your arms around this kind of time

The birth of the Savior was a little over
two thousand years ago and
we are aware of much of the history since then

If we lean toward being proud
there are some accomplishments
that are remarkable and noteworthy
such as the printing press, the cotton gin,
airplane, moon landing and much more,
but on the other side of the coin
there is much to be ashamed of including
slavery, genocide, needless wars and the taking of human life

I think of all of this as the car I am driving travels safely
down beautiful highways at a remarkable speed
We are important in what we do, but there is much to work on
As little specks we better begin

Stanski
December 20, 2019^

Today
Wake up early
thinking of you
Start the Sunday
moving slowly
The way you used to do
Watered plants
try to bring order
Then I think
what does it really matter?

It does mean something
Life does go on
You are not a physical part
anymore
but I’ll always have you
On my mind

Life was full
You made it that way
That was just you
What more can I say

I’ll move on
forever mindful
Life is precious
A real miracle

Stanski
December 20, 2019 ^

Today is your birthday
An ominous day
No sunshine at all

And you were all sunshine
Even on cloudy days
Until the last day

We were laden with dark clouds
But you had seen the light
Only a few days before

You told your sister
The colors were gold, purple, and magenta
Just like you to have this vision

Us unmemorable humans
Can only imagine white light
You saw what was true

But then you were special
Had insight which illuminated
Caused others to stagger

You were the one
The leftover I found
You held on to me

We had our life
Mostly our togetherness was rosy
Lots of sunshine and understanding

I still sense you about
Even after nine years
Your idiosyncrasies were treasures

I will wind the music box
Listen to “Happy Birthday to You”
Then go and cry

Stanski
December 19, 2019 ^

Different slants on the same truth
May cause confusion

Repetition alters no ideal
Perfection is to strive for through practice

We open up to new inspiration
Never knowing where to look or
when to expect the arrival

What we know is significant
Only in the sense of understanding
that growth is waiting

Drifting takes place while we linger
What we want is not being delivered

We look at the monument which is our self
It has been built with heavy stones

Tear this down and then rebuild
No easy task

Good growth requires hard work
No one can do it for us

Keep rebuilding until the monument of you
Is ready for enlightenment

Suddenly your gifts arrive
They were there before
But you were not ready

Now you are
Uphold this truth and your ideals

Stanski
December 19, 2019 ^

Where is the solid place that is safe for you?
Isn’t it true we look for that place to hide, or
meditate on the things we should and want to do?

We can be overwhelmed in this day of commercialism
No on blames anyone who strays from their intentions
Being human is a gift, but also a serious challenge

The Grim Reaper waits for the right moments
He knows our weaknesses and when we are vulnerable
Knowing this we try to stay on the righteous path

So easy to drift, to dream, and lose our connection with reality
Still our resolve brings us back to the rock which is our foundation
The strong and true, though apt to falter, find refuge there

No need to rehash failures, misfortunes or un-kept promises
We can renew ourselves in this place of safe-keeping
In this season we are thankful for the gift of introspection

We see the loose, the pleasure seekers, and the shameless
But we do not hold judgement over them as it is not ours to do
We are happy for our blessings and wish the best for them

We walk in our own shoes and know the difficulty at times
Therefore hold no ridicule for those who may be quietly suffering
The harvest will be taken and we will be asked what we did

What we did for those who seem to lag behind and
Have no apparent purpose in their life. Did we go to the fringes?
Did we try to influence and help them? We will be questioned

It gives us many things to think about during this time of joy
We should remove self-centeredness from our daily routine
Make room for prayer and consideration for others

Stanski
December 19, 2019 ^

He used to write
Now pretends
Genius fades
Cover-up begins
Slow transition
Formula known
Fill in the blanks
Another winner
Guggenheim man
Who’s to question?
Arts and letters
Don’t even think

A national treasurer
Like Thoreau
Grounded
Centered
Sense of place
Loves the earth
Fluid
Seamless
Perception
Deception
Part animal
Corruption
Magnificent
Cheers

Stanski
December 18, 2019 ^

Many things are written
Prompted by necessity, inspiration or creativity

Critics may take the time to read
The writing will be evaluated after the fact

A discourse on why or how it was written may be given
New significance will be attached at time goes on

When the author dies, a degree of sacredness
is anointed to the piece

If the writer by chance ever received an award,
perhaps the Guggenheim, then the piece is enshrined

Benefactors in the city where
the writing took place will build a museum

It will be named after the author of the writing

Members of the building committee will have
their names engraved on a brass plate

Those in the know will travel great distances
just to be an eyewitness to this history

Great articles will be written worldwide
further elevating the value

Pilgrims may travel many miles to
visit this important building

Roads may be closed temporarily to allow
for the installation of traffic lights

Negative critics will be held as blasphemous
They will explain away their indiscretion

Everything will be as it should

The power of words

Proof again that the pen is mightier than the sword

Stanski
December 18, 2019 ^

It is complicated he said
When he read my poem
So was “War and Peace”, I said
My work is just a fictional muse
embedded with humor

Take a deep breathe, start all over and enjoy
the laughs as well as the strategy of the set up
I use little punctuation giving the reader a challenge
Why should I do all the work?
You usually do, is the correct answer

Don’t forget, my friend, I go for quality and quantity
It is not easy to do both
Some poets spend a year or more on one poem
Crafting and changing until they are satisfied
I have read some of their finished products
Although they are fine pieces of work
They do not move me

This is because some of the nuances are peculiar
only to the poet and the relativity is lost on me, but
they receive the Guggenheim awards so what can I say?
Someone will find my stuff long after I’m gone and
wonder who that guy was. His musings were so impactful
And still have relevance
That is my dream

I will keep up as long as I can
Then there will be an end

By the way, I said to my friend
Did you notice that I am using
A new penname?

Stanski

I like it
Something like Frankie,
Ella or Elvis
Just the first name
Everyone knows

You have it right
I love recognition

Stanski
December 18, 2019 ^

MAJOR LEAGUE
Some of these poets write
in ways that seem abstract
Putting lines together and
in length, but they somehow
do not connect.

Writing for friends of theirs
trying too hard to impress
As they read, they would
laugh a little bit, my guess

He almost did it, almost
getting close to impressing
his colleagues

A little more time is needed
Maybe a few more years
If he keeps advancing this way
we will all be peers, how nice

They continue reading,
vaguely follow his “line”
Pretend they almost get it
Could he win the Guggenheim?

Sometimes a little obvious
but then he strays away
Goes off on a tangent
Very clever that way

I personally like the fact
that he introduces new
characters, many times foreign

Adds intrigue and culture
but no easy departure,
must ramble on to get to that
special place where
momentum will bring him
to the end and he will smile

Another masterpiece and
then add a few more lines
for his mother or a former
teacher and think it’s grand

That is where some of
the poets stand

Stanski
December 18, 2019 ^