Author: stevehaarman

Eight o’clock on a late fall morning

Everything is still outside

Totally calm

Snow covers the ground

The inland sea appears motionless

Under gray-white clouds

Light is just light,

   nothing arousing

There will be gloom today

    in many lives

Have things to do and cannot linger

There will be no basking in melancholy

I make no hard plans,

    things will just flow

I feed the birds, then shower

Throw in a load of laundry

Drive to town for physical therapy

Go to the post office,

   pick up the weekly paper

Donate to shop with a cop

Come home, put clothes in the dryer

Make up the bed, drink a glass of water

Sit and write a poem,

   then work on Christmas cards

Wash a few dishes and straighten the kitchen

Fold the clothes, take an hour nap

Wake up. 

See a pileated woodpecker

   go to work on a tree

Think about nature’s mysteries

The light, brighter earlier,

   now turns to gray

Looking back, it’s been a very good day

Stanski

December 22

An eighteen-year-old addict says that an

injection of heroin is like a kiss from God and

asks what can replace that kiss if he were to sober up. 

The learned one, a counselor, has no answer, but

is moved beyond words by the comparison. 

A kiss from God is an overpowering thought. 

What will compare? 

What could bring such a rush? 

Dwelling on this could be a lifetime mission.

I reflect on what brings about euphoria to me. 

When do I feel this rush of ecstasy?

Accomplishing the impossible, helping others,

giving of myself for good causes,

sharing in the joy of others, especially children

are some of the things that lift me and

give me a high.  I think about performance,

the practice sessions, showing up and

then the applause when it is over. 

This is nice, but not a kiss. 

I ask the questions:  What else does the kid know? 

What are his life experiences? 

Has he ever had a natural high

that comes with the empting of himself? 

If he hasn’t then he doesn’t know if the kiss of God

would have been given then. 

Without knowing then

there is no possibility to compare.

The body of everyone is a temple.

It is not meant to be desecrated.

There will be no kiss.

The creator is not to be diminished by thoughts

which imply that there is a reward for bad behavior.

If not predicated on doing the extraordinary,

euphoria then is just another name for loser.

Stanislaus Kuperski aka Stanski

December 21, 2021 ^

I caution myself on being selective

when it comes to other people. 

We are all brothers and

God has a purpose for all of us. 

He is the one and all we do

should be directed to Him with thanks. 

Amen.

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

December 21, 2021 ^

How often do we say enough?

We have been gifted beyond belief

To want more is insidious

We should be looking to give

Too many go hungry and thirsty

Through no fault of themselves

Dictators, hurricanes, earthquakes

Insert themselves in destiny

We hover around our fortune

Forgetting often those without

Walk proudly for our pitiful contribution

When we should be ashamed

What we have we may have earned

But not with the help of others

Now let’s open the purse and

Scatter help to all those in need

There are rules for all to follow

Illegal action should not be allowed

The higher power says the answer is love

We have to have some understanding

To coincide with the gift of hope and

What is so wrong about hope, love, and

Understanding.  So it is time to swallow

Our pride for really being so meager

Flash our smile with gratefulness as

We see the glee of those so deserving

Water, food, and electricity are ours

So abundant we do not give a second thought

If it were gone suddenly, what would we do?

Pray and ask for mercy; we are so helpless

Be on our knees asking for forgiveness

For neglecting to bear our share of the cross

Then marching to drumbeat of the Master

He will keep the tempo we need discreet

What makes you laugh, or cry, or think?

Remember it is a daily requisite

If we wish to have a full life

Don’t turn your head and walk away

And leave the work for others

Stanski

December 20, 2021 ^

A fair morning, wind blowing, and mystical. 

The presence of God is evident. 

As great as things seem we have work

to do to correct the injustices about us. 

There are many false gods, too much

fake news, and outright lies. 

There are many who bow to these degenerates

instead of serving the true master. 

It is up to us with His help to deliver

the truth and make life better for all.  Amen 

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

December 20, 2021 ^

In the world there are many other voices speaking – loudly: "Prove that you are the beloved. Prove you're worth something. Prove you have any contribution to make. Do something relevant. Be sure to make a name for yourself. At least have some power -- then people will love you; then people will say you're wonderful, you're great."

These voices are so strong. They touch our hidden insecurities and drive us to become very busy trying to prove to the world that we are good people who deserve some attention. Sometimes we think that our busyness is just an expression of our vocation, but Jesus knew that often our attempts to prove our worth are an example of temptation. Right after Jesus heard the voice say, "You are my beloved," another voice said, "Prove you are the beloved. Do something. Change these stones into bread. Be sure you're famous. Jump from the Temple..." Jesus said, "No, I don't have to prove anything. I am already beloved."

-- Henri Nouwen, A spirituality of living.

Eleven years have slipped by since 
you left us, Love and you are missed
now as much as then.  Tears and laughter
as well as thinking about all the goodness
you possessed.  Your wisdom exuded
whether we liked it or not.  You seemed
to be right on all the important issues.
You were a mother hen protecting your chicks
There were times when you got in the way, but
that only gave them strength and armor to
face the big world in front of them.  You never
talked about how much you harvested but
only of the seeds that you had planted.  We
learned so much about life from just watching you.
We all wish you a happy birthday today with
lots of love attached.

Steve Haarman aka Stanski
December 19, 2021 ^

A CAROL TO MOM

She had a golden touch,
which explained the richness of her living.
Her heart was open just enough,
to give out all the love that was needed
for the right here and now.
Her soul she would feed with only triple washed,
certified organic, gospel be damned truth.
Her soul was pure.
She was always on the lookout
for scraps, discards, and rejects.
She found uses for all of these,
never related and connected only by the fact
that they all added layers to her nest.
Little feathers added one by one
brought warmth and comfort.
She kept this quiet with only subtle mention,
but radiated it with her glow
of peace, hope, and understanding.
She reached out far enough
so you would always know
that her hand was there, waiting.
Her voice was much like the soft summer song
of early morning nature.
She had a silver lining,
but it never came with a storm.
Her only complaint was of not having enough hours.
Our complaint was,
there was not enough of her.
She was an original,
first and only version,
pure joy and now gone.

By Steve Haarman

November 6, 2019

December 19, 2021  Happy Birthday, Love.

Today is Saturday

I give thanksgiving

For a successful week

I pray for help during

The coming days

I need your hand

To guide me

Keep me safe

Show me others needs

Give me the strength to help

Life can be so beautiful

Amen

Steve Haarman aka Stanski

December 18, 2021 ^

You love the stories 
That you are the victim
And you know the truth
It is not a sitcom, but
The victim is you
By your own extremes 
You thought you were faultless
But only in your dreams
The truth laid before you
Open to everyone and
You held your thoughts
A lack of toughness it seems
Now you face reality
It sort of pushes you over board
You pull in your wings
As to an over lord
He gives you direction
How to live your life
In a way that is fruitful
Causes no one any strife
You pause and look it over
Realize that it makes sense
I am no victim you say
I am the beginning of enterprise
So you begin to get involved
This is the way it should be
Before long you are the leader
Things change to your surprise
You sense a feeling of leadership
Show other people your way
Of course this causes the others
To be in a state of dismay
But truth is truth and fiction is fiction
Your reflections make sense
It is just a matter of diction
You climb upon your pedestal 
Preach the teachings of life
The cowards shriek and run
Believers don’t roll the dice
They know the meaning of life
The tragedy if it is lost
They keep on trudging forward
With no interest of the cost

Stanski
December 18, 2021 ^