Month: May 2020

A PECULIAR DAY
It was a sunny day
A destination known
But not known at
The same time
When found it was closed
Our curiosity rose
We found it next to a
Restaurant we chose
A brewery incorporated
So home-made beer
Very delicious in snifters
We had nothing to fear
 
Dinner was light
Still early in the night
Too far to travel
We were not about to flight
Stopped at the Royale Inn
Just for the view
Plenty of folks there
I knew a few
Life has its twists
And I’ve been twisted
My eyes were open
I was being resisted
 
I wouldn’t like it
Any other way and
That is all
I have to say!
We made it home
I felt forlorn
The reasons
Unknown
I have faced it before
I know I am strong
Couldn’t figure out
What I had done wrong
 
The next day was fine
Like nothing had happened
We talked about what
Might have been
No apologies
Where would you send?
Life goes on
Like the river flows
Where does it end?
Only Goodness knows
Good turns bad
Bad causes frowns
 
One gets used to it
When dealing with clowns
Who are high one day
Depressed the next
The flow of life
Is often wrecked
But it goes on
Yes, life unfolds
There are no winners
As the story goes
Eagles will fly
Catch the morning sun
Reflections of gracefulness
And what could have been fun
 
Stanski
May 12, 2020 ^

It comes to pass
When you stop and think
That although together
We are isolated
There are views
Talked about freely
Then when dispersed
We all act independently
Or don’t act at all
We have opinions based
On what we have heard
Or on critical thinking
 
I know what is right
It goes beyond opinion
I hear negativity
From those I care about
I show respect
Keep my mouth shut
But am bewildered
Cannot understand
How people think’
The way they do
 
There can be no compromise
I see schooling faltering
Indoctrination becomes
The new wave of learning
Our constitution is ignored
Judges exploit justice
Which is no longer blind
There are warriors which
Stand up for the absurd
The corona virus has
Us shaking heads
Because we are locked down
 
Liberties are being taken away
Government is not the solution
The left rises high to
Give discredit to the dispatchers
Statistics show we are
Doing things wrong
Still respect for others
Must prevail
We need each other
We cherish the Light
 
We are not being realistic
During the Covid-19 crisis
We cannot give up our rights
Governors cannot make decrees
Executive orders are not valid
People want to do the right thing
But must take the challenge
Children should be in school
Where unfortunately is the place
They depend on for food
 
Addiction has never 
received the attention
That this virulent virus has
It goes against the policies
Of the CIA and the Deep State
Control of the people who care while
Those who don’t destroy themselves
Then in appreciation vote again for
Members of the Swamp to prevail
We live in the greatest country
Have a president who cares
It is time for us to stop pettiness
To come together in thanksgiving
Take care of God’s gift to us
Before it falls from us like
An overripe plum drops to the ground
 
Stanski
May 11, 2020 ^

Isn’t it true that we have feelings?
I have feelings and with them ideas
I wish I could arrange to have all the people
I have connected with, if only for a short while,
over the years and exchanged ideas, love, friendship
with and engaged well with, with mutual respect
and admiration get together for a while or forever
and enjoy each-others company with the feeling
that everyone knows each other intimately
and it has always been that way and there is peace
tranquility and excitement that is so great that no one
wants the gathering to end and there is no reason
for it to end and so it goes on and is never boring
and the others bring in those who were and are
special to them and this amazing euphoria expands
to everyone and just sustains itself with no effort
There is food and wine and sunshine with a warm
breeze and everyone is natural with no expectations

Potentially this phenomena could expand to
include every soul who ever existed and it would be
divine with embellishments, such as golden roads,
lovely streams of bubbling water and gardens so
common that it feels like home and those you run into
for the first time are like the lovely people you like
to be with and everyone is thankful without wearing
it on their sleeve and no one wants more than what
they have because happiness is just in being and
then a Being only described as the Light arrives and
says welcome everyone, you are home and everyone
remains calm as they observe Goodness and someone
offers this Light a glass of wine and with a soft wind
flowing through the area, the answer is yes, I would be
very happy with a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or
an Oregon Pinot Gris and when asked about a red
mentioned that a Chianti Classico Reserve would be
fine later with our dinner and we can expect to enjoy
the music of Ella, Louis, Frankie, Miles, Grover, Elvis,
Elton and the Beatles and the evening would never end,
but the Light would always shine and the feelings are 
real and we know that this is it
 
Stanski
May 10, 2020 ^

 
There can be no denying that this is Mother’s Day
Somehow there is a much different feeling to it
Then there is when things are more normal
There was no soccer match at the park
Where the parents could cheer on
Their little lunatics to victory and then
With their mates or husbands or wives form
A little tunnel for the little darlings to run through
With each of the little boys or girls stopping by
Their moms and giving them a rose which
Would be their sign of love, hoping that when
They got home they would not get a spanking
For their poor showing on the field and
The fact that their bedroom was a mess
Life goes on sonny and you have to keep up
You fall behind and you stay behind, so
Clean the bathroom when your finish your bedroom
 
Things are not like they were in the Ozzie
And Harriet days when everything was well
Peace and happiness prevailed and
The whole family went to lunch for a celebration
Those days are gone forever just like the old telephones
Now everyone has a device and many will text
Their mom and wish her the best
Oh, George, mom will say, look he didn’t forget
That’s my boy, George will say as his fat fingers
Peck away trying to message his own mom
Who is possibly in prison or in a nursing home
There will be no flowers this year as it is too cold
And the shops have been determined non-essential
The grocer’s supplier was all out when he arrived
Dad needed an elective knee replacement, but
But was denied, leaving the hospital almost empty
 
Our Governor is sulking because she did not get
The main role in her high-school play
Two of my daughters went to the same school
At the same time and said she was the queen of drama
But couldn’t remember lines and didn’t have the voice
She dresses fancy now and uses a lot of makeup
She has called off the celebration of Memorial Day and
Was not very impressive in announcing it
I feel for the soldiers and their mothers
Some on each side have left us, sometimes both
War is a terrible thing just as is the virus
In NYC 66% of the deaths have come from those in isolation
Nearly 10% were from those put into nursing homes
Who comes up with these ideas?  This is America
Hallmark has a new line of Virus cards.  They are adorable
Happy Mother’s Day to all the believers out there
 
Stanski
May 10, 2020 ^
 

 
Salty tears drop from our eyes
Evaporate, leaving no stain
We are sinners
Our souls are marked
Have much to do to make up
For the agony we put Him through
Tears are a remembrance of
All things we think important
They silently speak of the compassion
We have for those who exist without
Food, water and a place to rest themselves
There are no others at all for them
 
We must be the light that He speaks of
Do the things that will remove their darkness
Pray for guidance to continue needed work
No matter how deep the valley we’re in
Take yourself to the mountain and
Feel the tears flow down your face as
You see and dwell on all of the misery and
Evaluate what your efforts must be
No time to walk away from this
Anguish exists and it is up to us
Want these dear people to sparkle
When the train comes to pick them up
 
You will wave goodbye and salty tears
Will remind you of the darkness
You neutralized with your light
Gifting others with your gift from Him
We, too, are hopeless many times and
Depend on His blessing to see us through
We are not above or below any being
Unless we choose to be outcasts, who
Will miss out on the tears of joy and
The salt of happiness as we praise,
Bringing the light that darkness cannot overcome
And step aboard His train of goodness
 
Stanski
January 2, 2019 ^
 

LEANING TOWARD SPRING
 
Today the air is cold
Filled with white precipitation
It is nearly the middle of May
My fingers are cold and stiff

As I lean over to tie my shoe
I see the litter of the long winter
It lays in the gutter and
Up against the merchant’s buildings

Everyone is gray; almost tired of living
But I wouldn’t want to live
Anywhere else right now
The lake looks angry and dark
Fisherman experience frozen lines
They laugh as they can’t believe it

Friday evenings used to have
Teenagers parked sharing drugs
Fights went on in local bar rooms
Now with the quarantine
The nights are quieter
And the days just show up

No one has expectations
We are under illegal lock down
There is a pandemic
People are dying
But they do anyway, everyday

We all care but don’t like orders
Stemming from a fount of ignorance

Mushroom hunters are wearing masks
We all are wearing masks
Wondering what is next and
Whether we can see a doctor
Unless we are dying

Air conditioners are not running
Electric rates will be going up

The inefficient Government is sending us
Our own money back to help us survive

I just shake my head
I am going home and listen to
Grover Washington Jr.

It will be a good day
 
Stanski
May 9, 2020 ^
 

I woke up and was happy
Looking out the window I saw
That snow had covered the ground
That fact made May our eighth month of winter
We have June, July, August, and September left
To squeeze in three seasons
It is a great challenge
It is also amusing
The people here in God’s country
Handle these quirks of nature with dignity
They don’t like it, but accept it
We admire the Governor of Florida
He is running an open State
We in the Upper Peninsula should be open, too
Even the Down State people should be free
In New York the Governor said
Over 60% of the deaths
Have come from people isolated at home
The rest of the deaths came from expected sources
Including Nursing Homes which were
Forced to take care of Covid-19 patients
Amazing facts, when power supersedes sensibility
The world keeps turning
Fishermen are out testing their skills
Enthusiasts are out looking for mushrooms
Gardeners are getting their plots ready for planting
Everyone outside is looking for the ticks and hornets
All of this is what we do
A part of nature
A great time for reflection
I think of man’s inhumanity to man
Indians slaughtered; slaves abused, but later freed
Thought to be inferior by some
Millions killed in Russia, China, Turkey and elsewhere
Christians killed as I write and you read
Dictators watching starvation killing their people
Corrupt nations and world organizations
///But we have hope///
The Light will overcome all darkness
We must all try to be part of the light
Let His will be done
 
Stanski
May 8, 2020 ^

Art hangs on the walls of the waiting room 
in the hospital 
People observe; like or dislike it, 
forgetting about the creativity 
necessary to accomplish the finished piece 
and the skill in doing it 

Some want pretty works that are easy to look at 
Others like the challenge of trying to 
get into the artist’s mind 
Few, at the time, are thinking that what 
they see is a gift from God 
But, most are interested and captivated   

Masterpieces have been rejected because 
those with the say think the work is 
too depressing for the hospital or 
that our patients and visitors and workers 
are not sophisticated enough for the complex work 
It may be the other way around; 
people are fascinated with the multifaceted 
The curious are always looking for something new   

It is nine o’clock in the morning; 
the sun is shining 
My flamingos are holding fort; 
they are steady throughout the year; 
are not changing with the weather or the tides
 
I think about us; the masters of the universe 
We seem unable to stay consistent 
in our values from day to day 
A critic is spot on today, but lambasted tomorrow 
if there is disagreement 
People are steadfast in their beliefs and 
for the most part the people on 
the other side are wrong; they cannot be swayed   

Our teachers try, but students success rates 
are in the low percentile 
Schools are not as they were many years ago 
I don’t blame teachers and look at 
the ACLU as an obstacle 

People are eager to blame 
the Secretary of Education 
She would like school choice 
using a voucher system; competition improves results 
No, no, no is the cry from the teachers union; 
what does she know about education? 

The same cry comes from uninformed taxpayers, 
who cannot name the last secretary 
but have a dislike for this administration
They point out the failures in charter schools 
without examining public schools 
It takes more than a year or two 
to smooth out the wrinkles   

People take the advice of the Covid-19 task force 
which changes as things improve 
They take issue with the behavior of those 
who do not follow the instructions 
I read an article about Costco customers 
who wanted free masks to wear 
Statements are made about them 
which do not include all the facts 

Then insinuations that those who 
do not comply are low-grade people 
They presumably fill their carts 
with junk food and eat all the free samples 

The divisiveness begins; 
the divide we all dislike begins 
We have established ourselves as better 
than those who defy the rules 
We never point our fingers toward ourselves; 
it is always the other side 

Where have all the flowers gone? 
Long time passing 
Where have all the flowers gone? 
Long time ago 
Where have all the flowers gone? 
Young girls pick them everyone 
When will we ever learn? 
When will we ever learn?   

Stanski 
May 7, 2020 ^.

  
Art hangs on the walls of 
the waiting room in the hospital
People observe; like or dislike it, 
forgetting about the creativity necessary 
to accomplish the finished piece  
the skill needed in doing it
Some want pretty works that are easy to look at

Others like the challenge of trying to 
get into the artist’s mind
Few, at the time, are thinking that 
what they see is a gift from God
But, most are interested and captivated
 
Masterpieces have been rejected because 
those with the say think the work is 
too depressing for the hospital or
That our patients and visitors and workers
Are not sophisticated enough for complex art
It may be the other way around; 
people are fascinated with the multifaceted
The curious are always looking for something new
 
It is nine o’clock in the morning; 
the sun is shining
My flamingos are holding fort; 
they are steady throughout the year
Are not changing with the weather or the tides

I think about us; the masters of the universe
We seem unable to stay consistent 
in our values from day to day
A critic is spot on today, but 
lambasted tomorrow if there is disagreement
People are steadfast in their beliefs and 
for the most part the people on 
the other side are wrong; they cannot be swayed
 
Our teachers are try, but student's 
success rates are in the low percentile
The schools are not as they were many years ago
I don’t blame teachers, but look at the ACLU as an obstacle

People are eager to blame the Secretary of Education
She would like school choice using a voucher system; 
competition improves results
No, no, no is the cry from the teachers union; 
what does she know about education
The same cry comes from uninformed taxpayers, 
who cannot name the last secretary
They point out the failures in charter schools 
without examining public schools
It takes more than a year or two 
to smooth out the wrinkles, but
that fact is not considered
 
People take the advice of the Covid-19 task force 
which changes as things improve
They take issue with the behavior of 
those who do not follow the instructions

I read an article about Costco customers 
who wanted free masks to wear
Statements are made about them 
which do not include all the facts
Then insinuations that those 
who do not comply are low-grade people

They supposedly fill their carts with 
junk food and eat all the free samples
The divisiveness begins; 
the divide we all dislike begins
We have established ourselves as better 
than those who defy the rules
We never point our fingers to ourselves; 
it is always the other side who are bad

Where have all the flowers gone?  
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?  
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?  
Young girls pick them everyone
When will we ever learn?  
When will we ever learn?
 
Stanski
May 7, 2020 ^

Who are the middle aged heroes?
Do any come to mind
How about the farmer?
He showed up day after day, everyday
 
There are others like him
Who continue on unnoticed
Getting the work done
No excuses asked for or given
Just there regularly
Moving things forward
 
Male and female
Wonders of our age or any age
Problem solvers
Complaint was a non-existent word
Process complete!
Next
 
Silent manifestation of righteousness
Quiet angels of goodness
 
They are ours
We depend on them
Our heroes
 
 
Stanski
May 6, 2020 ^