Month: March 2020

 
Back in the days
 
Horse hooves clatter on pavement
Early morning milkman
Scheduled delivery
Early today
Regular order
Same as always
 
Empties clank
On return to wagon
Hypnotic sound
Back to sleep
Over sleep
 
Startled awake
Check on milk
A little late
Cold winter mornings
Allow cream to rise
Above lip of bottle
Still wearing cap
Looking proud
If not arrogant
 
Nothing broken
Not so far
Winter has its way
Hope it breaks
Before too long
 
Stanski
March 5, 2020
 

 
Snowy precipitation
Comes to end
Winter wonderland
May be at hand
 
Howling wind
Throughout the night
Recreation of
What had been
 
Morning light
Causing fright
Snow drifts high
And we mere men
 
Stanski
March 5, 2020 ^

 
How often do we change?
One minute, king of the hill
The next bowing and holding onto the hope
That we will be singled out and recognized
By someone special
 
Labels are strictly out of style
What matters today is how we
Take care of our part of the mountain
 
Responsibility trumps big-fish syndrome
Being the man is okay as long as
The gig is handled with dignity
Consideration for all the players
In this game of life
If we are to be regarded as worthy
 
Bullies prey on the weak to no good end
Better would it be to lead and
Protect the weak
Recognition then is valid and positive
No need to change
Your agenda is clear and humble
 
Gaze out from the top of the mountain
Absorb the enchantment and glory
Then return to the valley where
The worthwhile things have to be done
Execute with a glad heart
Whether following or leading
Fulfillment awaits you as
You live this precious gift of life
 
Stanski
March 5, 2020 ^

Difference is a big word
The margins in people’s definitions of
Certain words and conditions
Can also be huge and beyond our imaginations
 
We may fly on an airplane to our destination
One hundred years ago it was not thought of
We have earned our vacation and fly south for a month or two
Back when, vacation was just continuing your work as usual
 
I drive to an airport.  A plane takes me to Minnesota
I transfer to a plane flying me to Fort Myers, Florida
My brother picks me up and we drive to Punta Gorda
We see different trees and an array of wet lands
 
Punta Gorda has many ponds, dug to provide land for building
We are in the land where the Seminoles once flourished
The Gulf of Mexico is visible and awesome
Hurricanes at one time or another ravished the land
 
Snowbirds pray for good weather and safety
They are not equipped to tend with problems
They look for and easy entry and exit
Back when, the farmers wanted water and tillable land
 
We drive on U.S. Highway 75 which would
Take you to Sault Saint Marie, Michigan if you chose
We could pick up Hwy. 41 to Copper Harbor
The early farmers wanted a safe dirt road to town
 
We pass boat yards and villages offering the lure of fishing
And can see the tall church steeples built years ago
We arrive home to unpack and then leave to shop
The farmers survived on their wits and own produce
 
We have nothing to do except read, write and lounge
There is no inconvenience except for excessive traffic
In the end we fly home to return to normal life
Before landing tractors working land have been witnessed
 
We seem obsessed with doing these things
The farmers by nature’s demand performed daily
We complain because of minor obstacles
Farmers had no time for that, but labored on

We wait for spring.  It will be here soon
The farmers hued beams and sawed boards
Gathered ice and stored for the summer
They prepared their tools for work 

We do not know the difficulty of their strife
But to think that we have it tough is a laugh
We too face difficulties but relatively speaking
Our life is a breeze compared to those brave pioneers

Stanski  
March 4, 2020 ^
 

All the arrogance, the blaming, the lies 
and accusations suddenly become nothing
All eyes are on the virus and the unknown results of it
Outcomes based on historic facts cannot be relied on

People are worried about the stock market
Worried about having enough drugs
Wonder if the food supply chain will be interrupted
Whether there will be enough water and energy
 
No one seems to have faith in our resolve
A few days ago, in places of worship, there was joy
Now, a few days later, the power and grace of God are forgotten

People listen to news reports which mostly 
downplay the President
He did not create the virus and was criticized for 
acting prudently four weeks ago

Stopping the flights from China was not 
the political correct thing to do
Now, hindsight tells us that it was a very intelligent move
This to the dismay of the fake news media
 
Whoopy Goldberg does not know which part of her body to grab in her disgust
Chris Matthews retires from broadcasting the associated press scripts
Journalism for him ended many years ago; he was just a spokesman

Seems he did something in the past that is not acceptable in today’s world
If only are two nice words.  If only he had done investigative reporting
Looked for the truth and delivered it to the people in his upbeat style

He was incompatible, in my opinion, with the truth
No move shivers will be running up his leg
 
His heroes have vanished; hiding out; 
hoping against hope that they won’t be discovered
Their damage has been done and they want to be home free
Justice does not move as quickly as we would like
 
We, collectively, are feeling sorry for ourselves
Why does this Coronavirus stuff have to happen?
The winter was bad enough; snow, drifts, storms, and tornados
Haven’t we suffered enough is the question
 
I think of the people in Haiti, Syria, Nigeria, 
Yemen, Israel, Sudan, and Central America
What is our suffering compared to theirs; 
we have been given no insight to their plight
We have much to be thankful for but many times 
cannot be reconciled to understand this
 
There will be a day when we are all held to account
Will we be able to stand and say that we did our best?
Or will we point to others and shift our share of the blame?

Time will tell; and there is still enough time to do what is right
Deep silent joy comes from the sincere giving of ourselves
 
Stanski
March 3, 2020 ^

Nature provides beyond belief
Icy snow sculptures; carved by the wind
Reflections off the waves of the inland sea
Sunshine streaming on the green limbs of the pines
Lichen scream out an amazing lime-yellow light
Except for the water, everything is still
 
The road winds through the woods
Dunes and streams are visible
The two lane drive is narrow
Snow drifts shrink its width
Care is needed on the snowy-ice path
Slowing down is automatic
 
Here the sun filters through the trees
Shadows create more beauty
Glimpses of the lake inspire
Clouds provide the in and out light
But we must keep our eyes on the road
We take much for granted
 
Culverts withstand the weight of trucks
Water flows through them
I think of blood streaming through the body
Life depends on this activity
The lake needs its source
The streaming creeks provide it
 
The water is clear, but looks dark
It reflects shrubs and trees
It takes your breath away
Deer cross the road ahead of you
They make their way through deep snow
Are captured in photos when possible
 
The falling sun beautifies the sky and clouds
It is a resurrection prelude and humbling
How does this magnificence continue?
How lucky are we to be able to observe
Photos will be our testimony
We will attempt to give witness
 
Stanski
March 2, 2020 ^
 

A terrible unnecessary war
Very political in many senses
Did not have a happy outcome
Soldiers who served were blamed
The pathetic needed to feel good
So they took out frustration on
Those who so honorably served
 
At one time half of the homeless
In our country were Vietnam vets
Have of those serving time in jail
Were Vietnam vets.  Politicians looked away
A large percentage of marriages failed
Many committed suicide after the war
Feeling useless they had few options
 
They had seen the vile and darkness
The jungles were not a friendly place
They witnessed results of bad decisions
Carried the darkness of the jungle with them
There was no on and off switch
They could not gargle and spit it out
It weighted them down in every respect
 
There was no one to talk to
The country turned their back on the war
They wanted to move one and forget the past
But many had died in Vietnam
How could they just be forgotten?
What kind of people are we
Condemning those who served and died for us
 
We would all like to forget war
In recorded history there are few years without it
All wars are over land or religion
The industrial-military complex seems to benefit
We do not want to forget those who served
Those exposed to Agent Orange or those who died
We had better remember and pray for them forever
 
Stanski
March 2, 2020 ^
 

A day can slip by without notice
Early conversation lingers
A little breakfast and then cleanup
I clean out a box of instructions
Throw out the useless; outdated
Clean the kitchen and look at the time
 
I reflect on yesterday’s church service
The Methodist pastor spoke on
The death of an officer in the line of duty
The affect it had on his daughter
We do not know God’s purpose
The girl struggled for several years
 
She was gathered in by one who cared
And taken to a group of similarly stricken people
Saw that her situation was not unique
Misfortune had affected many
She turned her life around and
Now counsels those in need
 
It is so sad to hear of officers
Killed in the line of duty
We see these men almost daily
Watch them as they drive the roads
They are real people with families
We see them as potential trouble
 
Attitudes have changed
The sermon had its positive affect
We look at officers with respect
Cry when we hear the sad, bad news
Vow to do everything we can to
Change our perception of those brave men
 
Stanski
March 2, 2020 ^

So hard to believe
The miracle of it all
Looking out the window
No breeze to interfere with thoughts

Deer grazing in the dunes
Going for whatever is available
They survive by instinct
Bare ground shows beneath the pine 

Sun shines gloriously on the west side of the trees
Above the blue sky is cloudless
Way out where the shore should be
Stand ice-mountains rounded by the wind

Ten to twelve feet high
Different widths and lengths
Beyond, the huge waves keep pounding
It all adds up to wonder

To the south over the water are white clouds
March is coming in like a lamb
Winter started in October
Will there be snowfall in April?

There is no complaint
In this safe place on earth we have few “land-mines”
But everything is not perfect and totally peaceful
Human interaction has various outcomes

The sun will soon be setting
Beauty will abound once more
We will try to be peaceful with each other
There is only one life to live

A preponderant amount of evil exists around the world
So difficult to take it all in
It is not a counterpart of nature
Peoples are starved and murdered

Genocide prevalent in many places
Diplomacy is a precarious word
History has no meaning
Little learned is put into practice

Evil reigns along with power
This propensity is not instinctive
It is a learned practice
The art of conquer and control

Tomorrow the sun will rise
There will be joy and sorrow
We must not pretend to be helpless
Let us resolve to do good works

Feed those who are hungry
Give water to the thirsty
Provide shelter to the homeless
Be the good Samaritan 

Stanski
March 1, 2020 ^
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

We ask for so much
Expectations are abounding
Disappointments are going to come
Everything cannot, will not be provided
 
Complaints may be forthcoming
Why can’t I when they can?
Am I always the one to get gypped?
Life just doesn’t seem to be fair
 
But life is what you make it
Giving to others is a good start
It removes self-centeredness
It fills one with a joyful heart
 
Suddenly, after a while
Your need for things vanishes
It is just what you can give
That holds value and significance
 
Temptation is always present
It is good to be aware
Know what is going on
Choose as though you care
 
Thanksgiving is wonderful food
It fills us up when we are grateful
Nature gives us astonishing gifts
So often more than a plateful
 
So easy not to get lost in ourselves
We learn the lesson of giving
Then nothing else has much importance
Just this joyful way of living
 
Stanski
March 1, 2020 ^