Month: October 2021

We think of joy as a happiness
Brought on by success, accomplishment
Victory and the like.  Likewise there is
Quiet joy that we have because we have
Made it through a difficult circumstance
To survive in life is awesome especially
When considering the condition we
Sometimes have to endure to make it 
Through.  By Steve Haarman

I look around the room
It is a waiting room
Once fully decorated with art
Most was the work of
A retired policeman from
The Grand Rapids area
He is deceased and never
Knew where his work had gone
He had traveled the country
Also had sojourns to France and England
His work had been taken down
Relegated to rooms in the back
Replaced by a canvas print of
A local attraction not very well done
The other wall had a barn wood 
Framed mirror in the shape of
The Upper Peninsula
Nice, but not inspiring
Everyone has their tastes and
May not like other’s choices
Art should be important in our lives
Petty matters seem to be more important
This is the way of life
A man’s lifetime of work relegated
To an attic or a room in the basement
While we remain un-lifted by blank walls

Stanski
September 21, 2021 ^

Trees with dead branches
 Squirrels will tell:  “Long winter”
Collecting pine nuts

Gray clouds predict storm
So does the ache in my bones
Rocking chair for me

Birds bathe in their bath
Chipmunk squeals at the squirrel
Hummingbirds fly by

Soft wind keeps me cool
Temperature at eighty
No rain expected

Hunters make a mess
Clean-up is not difficult
Broom and a shovel

Chatter and banter
A tip of the hat for me
They like my magic

Day soon will be done
Still more work to be finished
Tomorrow draws near

By Steve Haarman
August 28, 2012
^

The need to have an excuse for every failure is 
a part of life that appears acceptable to many, 
who join in, offering their version of a situation 
in which they played no part, but 
have this feeling because they identify with the victim. 
 
One who succeeds is called lucky, 
effort and perseverance are overlooked or ignored.  
Sadly we continue to look the other way.
Accountability has no chair at the table where 
Discussion takes place on 
why society is in a sad state of affairs.  

Children are innocent, but grow up with 
the tendency to repeat the errors made all around them.  
Bad habits become acceptable, and unruly 
behavior is something to laugh at like a comedy play.  
The real stage soon runs out of lights and there is no audience. 
 
The actors or pretenders go on as though nothing has changed.  
Their beliefs have no merit, but are trumpeted as 
the only way to make it in this society where 
good is punished and bad is celebrated.  
Heroes are exposed as corrupt and their followers protest, 
Attracting even more into the fold of losers.  

Soon time comes when there are no more free lunches, 
fish to catch, groceries to buy or markets full of goods.  
The producers have gone on permanent vacation.  
The government throws up its hands in dismay.  

No one nods understanding as the excuses are presented.  
They want solutions but are too tired and hungry to look.

Stanski 
October 6, 2021 ^

MEDITATION BY STEVE HAARMAN
SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

We are blessed with memories
Many are worthy to dwell on,
While others we may question
On the idea of them being a blessing
We should turn the unhappy memories
Into a forgive and release proposition
Jesus died for our sins.  We have a free will
And make our choices.  Everything, although
Well intended does not always go our way
People make mistakes and we, in a sense,
Must die a little on our cross and forgive
If we are hurt, what do we do?  One 
Answer is to add up our losses, then
Double down with a gift to the poor.
Then we feel blessed again.  How much
Happiness do we deserve?  I say, be happy,
But remember those with nothing, who
Are starving, dying from malnutrition and
Internally from the lack of love.  We can
Fill ourselves up by loving those who have hurt us  
As we work diligently to improve condition.  
This is not easy and the results are not measurable, 
But the fact that we continue in spite of success
Or failure is what is important.  We must celebrate 
And be in gratitude for having a loving God,
Who allows us to think and act.  Amen 

        
I will play your part again
My direction is opposite of yours
Compassion has a meaning to me
All of my expressions are not political
I hear the shout out at the stadiums
Their true feelings drown out everything
And are not sympathetic to the occupant
More or less a major put down
Ignored by the deceitful media
Just a lot of meaningless words go by
Like we are waiting for Halloween
To find relief from all the pressure
That our inadequacies have presented
I never knew the art of compromise 
When something is wrong it is wrong
The deflating of America by the Occupant's pen stroke
Is baffling beyond words and sorry is not a word
Just watch how much more we can destroy of
This amazing country that so many have died for
Where are we going where we need not apologize?
Socialism cannot be that bad, can it?
Look at the southern border
Why are so many there, if socialism is the answer
Why are they coming to the land of the free?
Your part says it’s not that big of a deal
As long as you are in charge.  I can tell
You why you may be wrong.  You eventually run out of
Other’s money and then everyone is equal
Equal in misery and subject to dictators
No one wants this, even those who proclaim for Biden
He has obligations to China; he betrayed those in Afghanistan
He has betrayed the American people
All we see of him is his back; he lacks the conviction of his operatives
His face is blank because he has no ice-cream
His direction is questionable because he has no idea
I have to ask again, and again and again
Where are we going?  Does anyone know?

Stanski
October 5, 2021 ^

WE BEGIN

Let us know and realize
That we have been gifted
And even the poorest and those
With the least in this country
Are far better off than so many
Others in this world, especially
Those living in tent cities and in raw,
Poor and unsanitary conditions 
In Haiti.  God knows what we should 
Be doing and it is up to us to act
In accordance with His will
We must begin

Stanski
October 4, 2021 ^

In the 4 o’clock gray sky
A raven flew high to the 
North-northwest.
Where are you going?
Have you been out on a search?
Going home to say you 
Didn’t find a job today and
The soup is getting thin?
You make me feel lonely.
I’m down here working the earth.
No one around to say good job or
Tell me I’m doing it wrong.
The streets are quiet.
Little more sun will be seen.
You stay steady on course.
Family waiting, without a doubt.
Listen for your warning call.
You amaze me.
Give me hope.
All things possible, big or small.
I watch for just a while longer,
Until you are out of sight.
You have done a service for me.
Reaffirmed the importance of all action.
Never give up, even if the goal is distant.
You are a beautiful bird.
I wish you well on your solo,
Knowing we will all face the challenge at
Sometime or another.
When we do I hope we are
Filled with the courage I see in you

Stanski
October 4, 2021 ^

As much as we want to help everyone
The reality is that we can’t
It is not the case of the Priest and Levite
Leaving everything up to the Samaritan
The elite are pulling for the former
They like to make all the claim
The latter pays all the bills and places no blame
But this is one person ignored by two
When we have thousands invading our border
Most precious, but ignoring law and order
While hundreds of thousands wait legally
Redefinition of fairness must be bolder
Look at all the deaths that didn’t have to be
Chicago, an example, the second city
Drugs and gangs despite the gun laws
The basic cause of failure, what a pity
Where is the thinking in this absurdity?
A border is a border, it might be a wall
Whatever it takes to keep from taking a fall
We are a nation with compassion
Operation is not based on greed
We are a very generous people
Equality for everyone is our creed
Opinions everywhere on what to do
Who wants invaders living with you?
Freedom in their homeland is what they should seek
Overrun the dictators – is it possible to do?
Where do all of our millions go?
Is that something we should know?
Is the United Nations involved at all?
Are they aware of the meaning of freedom’s call?
I think of soldiers missing in action, sailors lost at sea
Cemeteries everywhere marked with white crosses
Parents who lost their valiant children
I think of angel mothers to the point of crying
Thirty years ago we gave amnesty to thousands
In exchange for securing our border
Dereliction of duty presents today’s problem
What are we to do?  What is law and order?

Stanski
October 24, 2018 ^

I think of the world
How wonderful it could be
But all of the chaos
Has a way of upsetting me 
The need to control
Oppress those we can
Remove all obstacles
Seems to be the plan
Genocide is a tool
Remove your enemy
Make proclamations
That will live in infamy 
Look for the fall guy
Or any guy will do
Make an example
Turn him into a fool
Be divisive, hypocritical,
And even racist
Then blame others
The political basis
Open the border
Against all legislation
Then cover for the crisis
Use terms like probation
America is not racist
Except for the panderers
We love others and help them
Even the wanderers
The politicians
Think about the mess
It’s the politicians
Just ask the lobbyists 
I think about our country
How wonderful it could be
People in constant prayer
And still the misery
When will we ever learn?
We’re the same as the founders
When will we ever learn?
This alone is my concern

Stanski
September 27, 2021 ^