Month: January 2020

Clem Ley was my grandpa
A funny man of sorts
Used words like “thunderation”
Smoked cigar clippings in his pipe
Worked for many years
at Tokheim Manufacturing
on Wabash Avenue
in Fort Wayne, Indiana
They manufactured gasoline pumps
and during the Second World War
they switched over to munitions
He was a maintenance man

I was born there and so was he
That made him special in my book

The story I want to tell though
came about one summer
while I was vacationing there
My grandmother
was doing things that irritated him
To solve this problem
Clem walked to the nearest drugstore
Bought a large bottle of Lydia Pinkham Tonic,
a cure-all for female maladies, and returned home

He opened the package and proceeded
to pour out one tablespoonful and
suggested that Emma, his wife, take it
When she said she wasn’t taking that s—
he threw the tablespoonful into the sink
then he fetched another utensil and
poured out another dose and said
“Well, I’ll take the damn stuff myself!”

By this time everyone was laughing hysterically
He thought we should all take a dose to settle us down
It was 36 proof at the time, but we declined
There are other stories but this was one of the best.

Stanski
January 17, 2020 #

Some get caught up in titles or
a name implying virtue and sanctity
Reading words carefully written
for an agenda takes much care, but
taking the time is essential

When they put their talents toward
destructing the President by
any means possible, one group,
“Christianity Today” in calling for
the President’s Impeachment
misses the point of being Christian

For Christianity has inherent gifts
including understanding, kindness,
forgiveness, grace and hopefulness,
selflessness and encouragement

To have a goal of removing
the President from office is
completely contrary and goes
against everything that Christ taught us

Ecclesiastes states that surely
there is no one on earth so righteous
as to do good without ever sinning

The President has a flawed past and
he isn’t always politically correct, but
he has protected those with no voice
and cannot protect themselves

He watched four previous administrations
Stand by doing little while
the world was being flipped upside down

He has given up his life to defend the meek
while at the same time he has been slandered,
attacked, and verbally assaulted

“Christianity Today” has joined with
the leftists who are anti-Semitic
calling for the boycott of Israel and
the killing of our Jewish brothers and also
the murder of children in the birth canal

The President sees their desire to
root out God from everything American,
the desire of the vipers in the swamp
to teach us morality while getting rich
by being bought off by the Chamber of Commerce,
the Pharmaceutical Industry,
insurance companies and big business and
many other entities which are subverting our interests

Our President has been put on trial by law
just as Jesus was put on trial
It is not God’s law which is being used
He has not been accepted as leader
because he threatens those with the power

They do not like him because
he puts the working class first and
gives voice to the voiceless

Those in the swamp will have to
answer to the God they deny and
explain why they ignore His precepts
and worship the golden calf purchased
by the middle class paying their taxes

In the meantime those Christian in the true meaning,
love and defend our President who acts for
the voiceless and has lifted the well being of
people from every culture, race and creed

“Christianity Today” will be answering as well,
but not in the way they had in mind

Stanski
January 17, 2020 ^

Eight o’clock light
Filters through evergreens
Casting no shadows
Brightens the snow
Trees are still
Gray clouds hold steady
In the south
A promise of more white
There is no movement
But signs of earlier searches
Animals, mostly deer
Working hard for their feed
It is cold
Eight degrees above zero
I wonder about the roads
An earlier start
Would be wise
The calm before the storm

Don’t think about reward
You have this day
Others are out there
You may see them
Sense a struggle
Offer a helping hand
It is cold for them, too
Any good deed will do
Also try to slow down
Don’t be tempted to scurry
You will miss too much of life
Just watch others in a hurry
Life is so precious
Live every moment
Doesn’t matter about shadows
Birds may not be in the air
A lonely feeling may settle
Don’t let it get you down

Be prepared now
It is time to go

Stanski
January 17, 2020 ^

There is an order
I try to follow
Like to feel rhythm
When I’m in my flow
Everything natural
Comfortable feeling
What it’s all about
Part of my expression
Never boring to me
I make that so
Play games with emotion
Make my own show
People may follow
Try to keep up
I give them credit, but
They don’t have my strut
I don’t shout out
With mockery
It’s my private game
My personal victory

I know, too, that
There are other rhythms
Motion and order
Leaving me behind
I like that situation
And like to dwell
I can catch up
Once I have the touch
I keep it secretive
No one knows
What I’m doing
Or why
It is just life
These things I do
Life competed fairly
Played by the rules
Always be fair
Pump up with kindness
A fool-around; enjoy yourself
Avoid the convoluted mess

Stanksi
January 17, 2020 ^

The roaring
Like a woman’s scorn
Won’t be tempered
By manly wishes

Danger lurks
Seek your shelter
Quiet time
Is not for now

Time was had
To prepare
Wasted chances
Won’t take you there

Winter winds
Part of the season
Won’t be bought off
For any reason

A woman’s scorn
Part of life
Right or wrong
Knows no season

Winter winds
Like any winds
Are only ill
When they blow no good

Take the wind
Take the sound
Reminders that life
Has no bounds

Never to control
Never to mind
Your own pathway
Is what to find

Stanski
January 17, 2020 ^

I want to write without hurting feelings.
I have friends who take the position of the leftists.
I have asked them several questions and their answers
lead me to think that they believe mostly the same as I do,
but still take the stunning position of desecrating the President,
some calling him the worst ever.

I ask if they know what he has accomplished and
nothing is the answer I usually receive.
I ask what he is guilty of and receive a few stumbling accusations.
I ask about the Senate probe and the Mueller probe
and point out how nothing was found.
They can only shrug.

They say the President is sexist, xenophobic, racist, genocidal,
homophobic, and imperialistic, obsessed with money,
morally inferior to those in West Europe, desires power,
does not care for the planet or animals, and is materialistic.

I am dumbfounded as I listen to these thoughts and expressions.
They have taken the attributes of the left and applied them to the President.
They do not appear to be trying to be clever, but are sincere in their beliefs.

I cannot ask where they are getting their information for it is obvious that it is coming from the main stream media.
I do not ask if they engage in critical thinking.
I do not argue. I respect them and hope
they know what socialism is and what road
their leaders are taking them down

I will remain a deplorable

Stanski
January 16, 2020 ^

They have been around
Know it all
Or say they do

Have their sycophants
Teetering on every word
What to do next

O faithful scribes
Tell us now
Keep us from a fateful move

Write for us the recipe
Keep us from the horrors
You preach about

Tell us which beer to drink
Ask the barmaid
She’ll remember

The one you liked so well
Last Tuesday
She, too is impressed

Knows you well
For what you are
Keeps quiet

Deserves your generous tips
You are overwhelming
All problems have vanished

As quickly as you point them out
You are charming
Enjoy your crowd

Even angels are listening
Waiting patiently
To take your souls

When the Master
Has decided that
He has had enough

He will place you
Where you deserve
Will not forget

Your favorite drinks
Enjoy
O wise ones

Stanksi
January 16, 2020 ^

They are flying
Then sputtering
In all directions
High and low
Destiny unknown
Like the Jetsons
Somewhat hysterical
Everything will fall in place
Suffer through whatever disgrace

In a hurry
Rush it through
Then let it wait
There is more to do
Backwards
Forwards
Obstacles
Lies and miscalculations
Very entertaining

Laughable
If it weren’t true
Who knows coal?
Who knows oil?
Humpty Dumpty
Or Old King Cole?
Jet planes here
Jet planes there
Pots in the air

Climate changes
Yes! Every day
Wish I could control
So much gossip
Too many lies
What else is there?
World turned upside down
Old drooling fools
Confusing administrations

In the end truth will emerge
Arrive in a concrete auto-air-ship
Gnashing of teeth; cries for mercy; no one hears

Stanski
January 15, 2020 ^

Why is it so easy to forget
Things we wished to keep in mind?
We were keeping track and then
Our minds went on furlough and
What was once significant became
Less meaningful then a stone
Skipped across a pond
Only to sink out of sight
What is important and is there
A benediction for us when
The original worth is discovered
And we act on it in a fruitful way
As though we were on
Top of it all along

What comes first in life, stupidity
Or our ability to detect it and
Is wisdom a gift we must wait
Years and months to unwrap
Life becomes contentious and
We have to deal with obstacles
Which we have no control over
And the keeper of the keys is absent
How long must we keep nodding yes
When we should be demanding no
When should we stand up and
Address the flaws in the system
Or forget everything until what
Was is no longer standing

Stanski
January 14, 2020

We have seen the glory of the eagle
When it flies in the sky of lovely blue
This vision transforms our thinking
about all of life’s possibilities
We have heard the promise of a better tomorrow
If only we are willing to sacrifice today

The eagle is uninhibited
We see its grace and conditions
Free access to lofty heights
From where its opportunities
Will be clearly laid out

Then the decision
Act or do not
Depending on instinct and need
Just another day in its world of survival

We think about our glory
And wonder if anyone witnessed it
Can it be defined like
the soaring of this bird?

The sun breaks through the cloudy sky
Puts light on the pines and the hills
Which are covered with light snow
and leaves from last year
We feel better even as
we watch the swirling flurries
Trying to make an impression on the landscape

The sun fades and clouds darken
Blowing winds keep waves pounding
These are conditions
Our work goes on in spite of them
Our purpose should be clear
Obstacles are not perceived
The fulfillment is more important
than the cost of the effort

We can soar
Our wings lift us to
new heights and better days
We find glory; are filled and thankful
We are ourselves
We are eagle like
The feeling is good

Stanski
January 13, 2020 ^