Month: February 2020

 
Today, when they came to the door
There seemed to be the element of hurry
It didn’t matter much at all to me as
I was just up and kind of blurry
 
Willing to listen, I gave them my all
They walked in and followed me
I walked down the hall to grab some clothes
So I could finish dressing
 
They took no mind and kept on talking
And seemed all right with my attention
They went on with the good news and
Not a thing did they forget to mention
 
At least that is the way I saw it
And then they were ready to go
But I asked a serious question and
I thought that would make them slow
 
But they were already out the door
I followed them out into the mild winter
And really felt like talking
Let them know I was no quitter 
 
One looked at his watch, then got in the car
They had another meeting and had to leave town
I walked over and leaned on the window
Told them I hoped I hadn't let them down
 
They commented on the weather
Said goodbye and were gone
First time they ever kept track of the time
Their time not mine and with a frown
 
Stanski
February 6, 2020 ^

I find myself walking down a lonely road
I know I look withered and am looking
For a batch of eloquence to provide
A temporary fix to my downheartedness

I like the mystique so I asked Mr. Lizard
He told me to wait for just a minute as
He was pounding away on a grand piano
Life goes on; life goes on; what is a moment?

There were no raindrops, but it didn’t matter
We were under the great circular tent
People from all climates were there
Even some from Venus and Mars

There was no harshness present but
The feeling of joy was overwhelming
I thought about my life, wondering
How did I get this far and is this far enough

Mr. Lizard told me in private that
He knew very well of lonely roads
He assured me that if 
I just kept walking

I would find the village of hope and love
That I have been looking for
There won’t be dragons or toads
Hammerheads or uphill roads

You have seen the vengeance;
The tar and feathers, but the breaks
Have always gone your way
You are mystical, too, he told me

I will probably never see him again
But I will never stop loving him
He gave me the greatest gift and
You don’t tamper with self-knowledge

Flowers began popping up all around us
The land was arid and light in color, but
Changed to fertile soil that sustained life
Flower children were amazed; their prayers answered

Sunshine radiated everything about us
Music from the piano lifted everyone
No one could remember this much ecstasy
It was sway time; tango Cordoba

Go my heart, go to heaven
This will have been, time unremembered
 
Stanski
February 6, 2020 ^
 
 

It seems so obvious to me
So many appeals for money
So many examples of waste
People want to do right
Gives them a chance to express
Thanks and remembrances
Money spent on temporary
Symbols of honor and respect
 
A season comes to an end
Decorations which cost money
Relegated to the trash bin
I often wondered why we overdo
Couldn’t we be more symbolic?
Have one plant to honor the divine
One to remember all who are gone
One to remember those still here
 
Three plants representing all of our love
Then the rest of the gifted money
Could be used to help those in need
Projects that appear to be worthwhile
Money applied to reduce debt
Or given to help those with unexpected debt
So many worthwhile things to do
I think about that at the dumpster
 
I will not deny that there was beauty, but
Beauty comes in many shades and degrees
Not everyone will always want to agree
We have always done it this other way
It is true so what can one person say
I will stand and say:  Let’s go to the fringes
Take care of the hungry and thirsty
Provide clothing and shelter
 
Stay there until things are right
Then move on to the next location
It is hard; it is difficult; heavy, like the cross
We would have to give up so much
But, I would say, that is what we must do
It provides double joy to the givers and receivers
Glorious and silent. 
Don’t you agree? 
                            
Stanski  
February 6, 2020^   
 

I have an itch to get things done
But have run into the midwinter blues
No matter my good intentions, I nap

Today I fell asleep and dreamed
The President was giving his State of the Union Address
It took a long time because everything he said was
Greeted with a lengthy round of applause
From both sides of the aisle

Everyone kept yelling USA, USA, and so forth
He could do no wrong
Even the Speaker was applauding, acting genuinely happy

When he finished everyone stood
Their shouts now were:  Four More Years,
Four More Years and Four More Years
It was deafening and amazingly
Both sides of the aisle were joining in
Everybody was cheering and happy

I woke up from my nap
Reality set in as I tried remembering
I turned on the news and watched
The Senators acquit Him of both charges

Here is a man who decided to run
In order to get our country back on track
He is an outsider and that caused fear

The attack was on but he was unfazed
In three years he accomplished
An amazing list of deeds, more than
Anyone ever before him

He has America back on track
He had the itch to get things done
And offered no excuses for not beginning

To the contrary did much to improve condition
The swamp rebelled and tried to stop him
He had no time for naps

They came up with investigations and
Found that there was no there, there

Then the impeachment articles were 
Delivered to the Senate

The trial took place
There was no compelling evidence
They failed; he was exonerated 

We won; four more years
No more dreaming; just action
America wins
 
Stanski
February 5, 2020 ^

 
Light is very uplifting
A gray day can be depressing
Sunshine changes that in an instant
The sun pours its light through
A stained glass window in church
Stage left from the crucifix
There is red, white, blue and yellow colors
Forming an abstract painting
I think of the setting sun being
Reflected on a calm Lake Michigan
It is a powerful visual
One that is locked in my memory
 
I drive home from the Post Office
The gravel road is covered with
White snow and brown dirt
Spread randomly by the road workers
It is hypnotic
A beautiful pathway going somewhere
I let my imagination run free
Where is it taking me and
Will I be safe at it flows through
The woods and dunes and over the creek
I keep driving slowly
 
I see a truck coming toward me
I am back to reality and pull over
And stop until the truck passes
It is rather narrow with all the snow banks
I wave to the driver and he waves back
Then back to my fantasy
Where will the road take me?
It is so beautiful and the sun is shining
I pass a few driveways and wonder
About the people who live there year around
 
I am lifted by the adventure and mystery
Life can be exciting when you become a child again
I reach the end of the gravel road
I must turn left very soon or I will miss my driveway
Reflecting on my trip I consider myself fortunate
This is truly God’s country
We will keep it a secret for a while longer
 
Stanski
February 5, 2020 ^

Oh, of myself and the truth
All the promises I make
Then do not keep
I forsake myself
No one else knows
Or has the power
To set me straight on the path
 
Isn’t that the truth?
Only one person can do it
And that person is me
A coward
Standing tall with proclamation
Then stumbling and falling
But never calling for help
 
Oh, I know the truth
Especially my own
Know what it will take
Have been here before
Now, again, I’ll take a stand
Outline what I already know
Put myself in the position of go
 
Falling snow has its truth
Sometimes wild and crude
Then thaw followed by freeze
Roads icy, bouncy; absence of ease
It tells us its wintertime
Nothing for sure will be fine
We will be stuck on the incline
 
I know my own truth
I have been uncouth
Lying to myself with ease
Blaming whatever including
The frosty winter breeze
Pacifying myself with avariciousness
Now vowing to remove this mess
 
Stanski
February 4, 2020 ^
 
 

Water streaming
A never ending river
Taking me to places
I have no knowledge of
I am happy 
Feel secure
Like magic 
No problems
Just delights
Ancient dreams
Becoming true
Endless days 
Work is all through
I cry out
To a beautiful sky
Is this heaven?
I want to sigh
Hold my motion
Resist a notion
To pinch myself
I have dwelt
With mystery
Traveled fields
On horseback
Skied mountains
Climbed the same
No one questioned
Is this insane?
An epic journey
A gift to me
I took the measure
Never tried to flee
Glory waits
Not for me
But my gift to One
Greater than me
Life is rapid
Has value
Often wasted
I rejoice
My choice
Will not be denied
Although mystified
 
Stanski
February 3, 2020 ^
 
 
 
 

In the dark of night
When one sometimes awakens
Deep thinking or meditation takes place

I find myself in awe thinking
We exist for just a speck of time

In the parameters of eternity
It is difficult to contemplate
When sometimes a day
Seems like forever

We are born
We die
The world keeps turning

Our God knows us
He, too, is beyond comprehension
Faith alone keeps us grounded

How do we live our lives?
What is important and
What is irrelevant?

From this to that we scurry
Always it seems in a hurry
Must make something happen
As though indispensable

We influence others
Bear grudges and get angry
Happiness and joy occur
We feel necessary, but
In reality we are nothing

I think of aborted life
Death on the battle fields
Millions of specks
Here or almost here
And then gone

Cemeteries filled with bodies of
People we never knew and
Oh, we are so necessary
Too bad for them, that they
Never had the chance to know us

We will be gone soon enough
Another speck missed by maybe a few

Live each day
Be spectacular
Love others
 
Stanski
February 3, 2020 ^
 

The night of the world is ancient
Winds whisper of fear and the
Purpose of creation swept away
We suffer again the fear of plague
It goes by a different name
A coronavirus transmitted
Person to person
 
The night is alone, dark
Cannot speak out truth
Will give no light at this time
We do not learn
Bring wrath upon ourselves
Proclaim we’ll do our best
Give our warnings to be safe
 
The night is not all bad
It is very temperate
Allows for millions of dreams
Often indistinct and incomplete
Too often not remembered
We awake un-rested
Clamoring about existing danger
 
The dark night offers no hope
No flowers or sacred music
It leaves us cold and alone
Dwelling as we would in the light
Where our cares are one-sided
Our thoughts self-centered
Foolish people that we are
 
We make painful attempts at slander
Shifting any share of blame
Encase ourselves in strategy
Like concrete in a broken mixer
We are woeful, hopeless, and crusty
Search in all the wrong places
Avoiding appeal for His graces
 
Stanski
February 3, 2020 ^

I am not the star of this story
No one around here has read it
It is not about everything I miss at home
You keep jiving me
Refuse to understand
It’s about someone you never knew
The one I keep talking to
I can’t stop loving you
We are one
Into eternity
We had ecstasy
And central heating
Your smile melted my heart
The polite way you handled yourself
But let me have it four ways from Sunday
Couldn’t stop laughing at you
So quiet in public
Then the burst
As you prepared dinner
Now every time I turn around,
I am in love with you again
Every day I have the blues
I really needed you loving me
Always
Now I have boogie nights
Yearning for your love
You were right for me
But now it can never be
I will make it through
Because I can always think of you
What else can I do?
Never stop dreaming of you
Joy and pain
Here today
Gone tomorrow
That is how it was
You’ll always be on my mind
Forever, for always, my love
 
Stanski
February 2, 2020 ^