Month: March 2020

 
Sometimes when writing
I sit and think
 
Sometimes I’m moved
                By thoughts
 
Remembering the goodness
                I see in others
 
The caring, love and kindness
                So frequently witnessed
                                In their lives
 
I shudder and hold back tears
                While hoping
 
Praying that I can become
                More like them
 
 
Stanksi
March 31, 2020 ^

We are looking for the statesmen
Can you possibly hear the call?
Step up and do what we asked you to do
Before we hit the wall
 
Those who once were statesmen
Are now the ruling class
Somehow they got turned around
And now know better than us
 
They feel they belong and have the right
To their lofty place on the hill
And forget after awhile and all too soon
That it is we who are paying the bill
 
They say one thing and do another
The lobbyist buys them a meal
And pays for a trip to Paradise
Then they make the deal
 
We shake our heads and cry out a bit
Not what we wanted and we tell them that
They smile and say it’s all right
Things will work out because they’re the fat cats
 
After a while we see, we know
The handwriting is on the wall
If someone doesn’t do something soon
This country is going to fall
 
Then more promises followed by broken word
We’re on the highway to hell
We better start doing and doing it fast
They’re ringing the last warning bell
 
Stanski
March 30, 2020 ^

We trudge along going about our business
with just the normal concerns,
thinking about loved ones and 
friends we have not seen in a while.
  
We think about the snow and the cold and
the rising lake levels and life goes on. 
Then the wicked virus hits and we dig deeper into the abyss
concerned about how much trouble we are facing.
 
We are thrown into the surreal and wonder if
this is the end of life as we know it. 
Deep faith in God is very helpful.  
We are always aware, in the back of the mind sort of way, but
now that we know this is real we find solitude in our relationship
with He who is above all earthly things.
 
Surface Christians are flooding mega-churches
almost in defiance of the suggested safe-guard rules given to us by
the Health team led by the Vice-President. 
The desire for money is greater than the need to abide.  
Big time preachers become demagogues
making false claims and promises
to ease the struggle of their flock. 

Foolishness prevails in localities around the world. 
Shortages of sanitation products cause concern. 
Blaming becomes a popular sport especially if
your side looks to be the winner,
when in reality the winners are those who survive
this unexpected virus from hell. 

If we are lucky and God wills, there will be
an end to this costly episode. 
We will learn and should know that we are not
impervious to fate and these realities of life.
 
There will be more struggles ahead. 
Our life will not be the same. 

We must isolate and meditate on the virtues and
attempt to become better individuals; 
to be thankful for all
the real gifts we have received.

Then we may find some sort of peace.
 
Stanski
March 30, 2020 ^

 
Empty swing
Now just a tire
Hanging from a rope
 
Listen for the echo
Of those voices
Daddy; daddy; daddy
Listen! Listen!
 
But they’re gone
A pendulum of life
Like a day or week
Gone not forgotten
Memories linger
 
The passage of time
Rolls over what could have been
Showing no mercy
While tearing at the heart
Leaving scars and lumps
 
Reality has its way
It lifts us up, too
High enough
To cover up disappointment
Time will march
Life goes on
Live it well
 
Stanski
March 29, 2020 ^
 

My body aches and my mind is confused 
Why are all these things happening?
How long do we wait until there is order?
The order we understand
We wake up every morning to the same
Talking heads who know nothing
Spilling their guts with glee
Happy for the misery
Thinking it will help them

They are the fence sitters
The abominable causing hatred
They have their fans until
It is found out that they have an evil past
Thought molesting co-workers was fine
And the gleeful ones who loved them so
Now turn their “righteous” backs on them
Wipe them from their memory as
They do with most truth that doesn’t suit them
Those doomed will no longer utter condescending words
Which were quite disagreeable or unpleasant
 
Some of my friends and even my relatives
Find themselves in the camp of the deniers
Never a civil word to say about how we are doing
Always taking a negative view of the series of successes
Pointing out with happiness any perceivable failure
Take misquoted remarks and use them as their standard bearer
Hear words ordained to give hope and comfort
And persuade themselves they would have rather hear cackling
Would have been better off if the evil machine was in charge

Point out how the last regime was pure and productive
How the leader was clever in shifting his share of the blame
I know these people and their hardy laughs
Slapping each other on the back; affirming their ignorance
I remain silent as it is wise to do when outnumbered
Do not point out how successful their strategy is in states like
New York, California, Oregon and Washington and in cities
Like New York, San Francisco, Detroit, Chicago, Baltimore and so on

I feel for the rats; they are just surviving, 
but it’s the rodents that bother me:
The politicians who mkKe empty promises and only look out for themselves
My body aches and I don’t think it will heal soon
 
Stanski
March 29, 2020 ^
 

Redheaded Belgians
Never carry to term
Must be anecdotal
Or a fact I never learned
 
                Wonder what it is
                The country or the hair
                Guess it doesn’t matter
                Can’t really care
 
More to life than waging
On other peoples fate
No matter the reason
Some babies don’t wait
 
                A brunette in Thunder Bay
Couldn’t have kids at all
                Disappointment?  “ Not”, she said
                Motherhood was not her call
 
A blonde I knew in Lowell
Was married in the fall
The baby born in early spring
Was a boy:  they named him Paul
 
                Redheads, blondes, or brunettes
                All subject to the curse
                Whenever offspring do arrive
                We set it down in verse
 
Who are we to make the rules?
There is no one to obey
For whom do we give clues?
They’ve all gone away
 
Stanski
March 28, 2020 ^

 
When the prince and the pauper die
They are equally dead
Their souls then have their day
And are measured in an equal way
 
Wealth and power bring no favor
Good deeds done have the savor
Live what you live like it’s forever
Shortcuts to hell, not for this traveler
 
Stanski
March 27, 2020 ^

 
My heart aches. 
It is not a new phenomena. 
Over the years many incidents have happened
which have affected me in the same way. 
I know that I am not alone. 
Many good people suffer from all kinds of
significant events that have upset
the normal course of their lives. 
 
Bad people, too, have feelings and
somehow events occurred which caused
them to react in ways that are punishable. 
Certain events leave scars lasting a lifetime.
 
Now we are in a crisis. 
It is a totally new situation. 
We are powerless in our efforts to control. 
We listen to experts, to the media,
to the deniers, to those who find fault and
we listen to our leaders: 
Mayors, Governors, and the President.
 
Much is being done and as time passes,
hope is revealed.  This is us and
we are the ones being affected and
there is discourse which is formal and orderly,
presenting much information and updates.
 
Speakers present their thoughts in a rational way. 
The evidence from which they gather facts changes and
their thoughts leave us uneasy and as things
stay about the same we become weary. 
We second guess. 
 
The leaders are not always right and
we must resolve condition with solutions
coming from a balance of emotion and critical thinking. 
The heart and mind must be on the same page.
We will be challenged for an indefinite period.
 
We are not the only ones suffering and
this fact is what causes my heart to ache. 
We are full of “it’s about me” and fail to
consider our duty to serve others, who are helpless,
in finding solutions to their problems
which are very serious.
 
Across the world there are droughts, tsunamis,
flooding, infestation of locusts, lack of
potable water and food, absence of housing,
poor or no sanitation, a need for hospitals,
misery caused by dictators, genocide,
starvation, uncontrolled fires, persecution,
hurricanes and disease. 
 
We do not hear extended news about
these conditions from the media. 
 
Many help by volunteering their services and
by contributions to pay for what is needed. 
 
There are those who stand by and do nothing
even though they have the capability of doing great deeds. 
It causes me to wonder if they are playing god. 
 
We are praying more and will no doubt survive our crisis,
but should not feel at ease until the pitiful conditions
remaining in the world are put to rest. 
 
Our crisis may be a wake-up call. 
We must return to love, honor and respect. 
 
We have the capability and if we add desire,
and the grace of God, will get the job done. 
 
Then the aches known so well by too many people
will go away and be replaced with joy.
 
Stanski
March 27, 2020 ^
 
 

 
You look at the bloke; seems alright
A little loud; quite sure of himself
There in the waiting room
Has everything under control

Quit smoking; lost weight; loves chocolate with his beer
Doesn’t think it will cause him any problems
He has had bypass surgery; saved by the bell
Lives on disability income
 
You wonder if that is as attractive to him as
The packaging on all the candy, beer and cigarettes
Why can’t good judgment be presented in an attractive way?
Wouldn’t that cause it to be irresistible?

Work is hard, man, and it takes time
It’s not cool; it doesn’t look good
 
We decorate habit and vice
Idealism does not come packaged
Never has and never will

We’ll see it though, now and then
It has substance and stands on its own
It has the merit which is priceless
 
How easy to choose the downhill road
It looks better; it’s easier
Consequence isn’t that important
Especially when someone else is paying
 
Bloviating has its place
It’s not pretty but has appeal
Let’s not wrap it though
And that’s a wrap
 
Stanski
March 26, 2020 ^
 
 

My flamingos are steady
Still anchored in snow
Then see the earth close by
And are full of hope
A new day is coming
They will be free to roam

However they are loyal
Will remain in place
Waiting on me to act
What could I possibly do?
They are who they are
I am not to interfere

They have a mission
It is to remain dependable
And not look for greener pastures
They are humble in their own way
Lessons could be learned
Just by observing them

There may be a day
When they will be moved
There are many locations
I may choose to elevate them
Place them high in the dunes
Make them visible to more

Show off their peacefulness
Teach us while being tacit
Phenomenal truth from the silent ones
Are we not foolish people?
Always looking for the flamboyant
The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow

The established rather than the unknown
When right in front of us in plain sight
Is the answer to all of our questions
We are fervent people and seek peace
Joy is within us if we quietly look
There is no band; no parade

The music of nature and
The movement of creatures
Is all that we need
Looking at life like this allows us
To answer our own questions
The flamingos nod their heads in agreement
 
Stanski
March 26, 2020 ^