Month: August 2020

SKILL SET

My mind goes back a year

Before the Chinese Virus

Was released on the world

Back when things were somewhat normal

There were football games being played

With them of course came announcers

Who tried to come up with impressive sayings

The big one I remember is “Skill Set”

It became redundant

But they loved to say it

Loved to hear their own voices

My answer was “Turn down the volume”

We became our own commentators

It was obvious that we had that skill set

Stanski

August 16, 2020 ^

A VOICE

A lesson is taught

Difficult at first

Then gradually learned

It makes sense to everyone

The feeling is upbeat

Like jazz played just right

You can see the drummer smile

Pride prevails over displeasure

     Then a quiet voice of descent

     This has been planned

The music changes to the blues

We have everything to lose

What we just learned

Does not seem to matter

Pride has slipped away

We have fallen prey

     To a quiet voice

Stanski

August 16, 2020 ^

I KNOW MY TRUTH AND IT IS GOOD

I write about life as I see it

Sometimes it may seem offensive

Especially when it goes against weak virtue

I know intuitively

Isn’t that interesting?

Sincerity does not escape me

I know what a fool is going to say

Before he utters a sound

Conversely I put words in others mouths

This makes their convictions sound enlightened

     I write the truth

     Beware of me

I don’t intentionally hurt, but

My eyes do not deceive me

     I see abuse as people by pass their supposedly

     Underlings to reach out to someone from a higher “cast”

I write about love and what Jesus means

And moan when man rules supersede His

I know hurt and treachery; dig deep to

Find its roots and feel helpless except for in prayer

     There is not much I can do

I see people offended when they find what they

Believed in to be not true, baseless and hallow

I know good men but also know that we all have purpose

I am comfortable with my ideology

Betrayal is harsh and I dislike being its victim

My covenants are sacred to me and

Forgiving, although difficult at times,

Is something I willingly do

I know my truth and am thankful

STANSKI

August 15, 2020 ^

THE DAY WILL COME

I will not drown

In the sorrow of the world

I hear the cries

The groans and

Calls for help

I look inside myself

What can I do?

No David against Goliath am I

I can pray for the oppressors

And the oppressed

Babies are still dying of starvation

The whole world over

A number we cannot comprehend

Who is going to be held responsible?

I look at myself again

Ask the same question

What can I do?

Is this God’s plan

Or does He want me to give

Not until it hurts, but

Until it feels good

The answers will unfold

The chaff will be separated from the grain

Stanski

August 15, 2020 ^

LEARNING AND LISTENING

I wish I could write Blues Songs

Because I’m empty and broken-hearted

The words just won’t come to mind

Maybe I’ve had it too good

Didn’t have to suffer enough

Always had an advantage

Because I would work hard

And then also I was white

I try to put that aside

But it just won’t drift away

You can’t pay for what you didn’t buy

Just give back to those that cry

It fills me a little

But words don’t come

Joy and sorrow —oh let me beat a drum

Find the melody I hear from a horn

Mend a heart that was needlessly torn

I know the taste, but that is not enough

Squeezing out anguish with laughter is tough

Improvisation is the magic word

I’m miles away

Even the sound is to me absurd

Maybe there are no words

Just a marching rhythm of notes

Quarter notes, half notes

Notes ‘til you can’t count anymore

The Sax you blow until that single beat

Has a way of setting all scores

I’m happy now —I’ve tried

I haven’t lied; haven’t died

Still alive and listening and looking

Stanski

August 14, 2020 ^

THREE POEMS

One:

Work the landscape

Make it look nice

Let it sing to you

Listen for the bells

Soon they will ring

Stanski

August 13, 2020 ^

Two:

What lifts my soul?

Good things that happen

The sound of nature

                Wind through the trees

                Waves on the shore

I won’t ask for more

The moon, stars and sun

Speak to me, too

I want to answer back

That is my goal!

Stanski

August 13, 2020 ^

Three:

Denied and down again

Will I get up once more?

I must, I’m all I have

I’ll walk out that door

Will not look back

No satisfaction

I’ll find my destiny

You will see

And only then

Will you

Hear from me!

Stanski

August 13, 2020 ^

EARLY MORNING ORDERS

I woke up at 2:30 A.M.

Stars were clearly visible

I thought of the hour

I thought of creation

Of God Almighty and

His purpose for me

I wanted Him to speak

I laid down and listened

He said He works through me

I am one of His man-angels

There are high expectations

I am a chosen one

There is much to do

I have to open up more

To the needs of others

I have heard this before

But it vanishes from my mind

Like a rainbow from the sky

I need constant reminders

But now I have been challenged

This is serious business

It is incumbent on me to be aware

I feel under some pressure

But then I remember that

I am a chosen one and

This is all His work that

I will be doing and responsible for

It becomes a good feeling

A badge of extreme honor

I drift off to sleep but

Wake up 5 hours later

Still remembering the conversation

It was a new day with

A brand new assignment

Man-angels are made for this

Stanski

August 13, 2020 ^

THE CRITICS

It is the critic who speaks the loudest

Insinuates many times based only on hearsay

No authenticity is born on their wings

They are ready to fly away from the truth

There are those who sit on the fence

Waiting to feel which way the wind blows

They are in fact, abominable, but

Feel secure in their indecisiveness

Pragmatic to some critics is to be phony

Their alternative utterances have no basis

It is difficult to say you made a mistake

Circumvention of reality can sway opinion

Where can one go to discover truth?

Avoid the repetitions of those in discord

Thinking and logic can be employed

A review of the reliability of previous comments

There is a legitimate time to make claims

Point out the existence of evil and crime

The senselessness of destruction, looting and fire

Watch who is silent, while waiting to blame

Good people stay mute; afraid of reprisal

This should never be the way

Take a stand, be a beacon of light

Insure those who are righteous do not have to pay

Allow the critic to see the truth

This is real life; there is much to lose

Stanski

August 12, 2020 ^