Author: stevehaarman

This day started gray
No sunshine promised
Dampness allowed the
Cold to penetrate bones
Errands were run in the city
Then a trip to the post-office

Strangely, I had been thinking
Of friends from long ago
One that I have respect for
Was not open to communication
I could understand completely

I received a note from
A more recent acquaintance
Saying correspondence with me
Was not going to be part of her life
A chapter closed, life goes on

I received a package from another
College friend containing a book
About the restless waves in 
the life of a failed candidate for
The Presidency of the USA

Also included was an article 
Downplaying President Trump's
Success even while being under 
Attack from the left since before 
He was sworn in
Eventually impeached with glee
In a bizarre hearing where he was
Denied witnesses and legal representation
Only to acquitted by the Senate with
The help of Alan Dershowitz, who
Is a self-described liberal Democrat
But believes in the Constitution

I believe our country needed an outsider
I do not have a gun, but I thump my Bible
And am happy to be a deplorable
I made my vow to God and have honored it

The swamp is slowly being drained
Many think it is left versus right
No, it is we, the outsiders, versus 
The advocates of statism 
                                                                  
This president is for we
There is hope on the horizon

It is still gray
Snow is lightly falling
 
Stanski
February 7, 2020 ^
 

 
The dog is my friend
Takes me anywhere
Any direction
Doesn’t care
 
Once to Toronto
Had a lot of fun
Down to Baton Rouge
Loved that southern sun
 
The hound gets me there
Never really a crisis
Fair price on the ticket
Treats me first class
 
Dog takes care of me
Where ever I go
Drivers with good records
Put on quite a show
 
They’ve won my trust
Only line I’ll choose
Riding with greyhound
There’s nothing to lose
 
Go dog, go
 
Stanski
February 6, 2020 ^

 
My friend’s dad
Told me
That a lot of
Indispensable
People were
Buried in
The graveyard
 
I told him
I understood
But
Being truthful
I mentioned
That I wasn’t
Quite ready
 
 
Stanski
February 6, 2020 ^

Newspaper
Rolled up
Kept that way
With rubber band
Paper
Not to be read
Just to lie there
Until needed
To swat something
Or someone
Maybe just throw away
 
Contained news
Already old
Before printed
New age
New way
 
Old days
And ways
Still tug
The heart
Too early
Won’t give up
Completely
At least not until
New swatter found
 
Stanski
February 6, 2020 ^

 
Today, when they came to the door
There seemed to be the element of hurry
It didn’t matter much at all to me as
I was just up and kind of blurry
 
Willing to listen, I gave them my all
They walked in and followed me
I walked down the hall to grab some clothes
So I could finish dressing
 
They took no mind and kept on talking
And seemed all right with my attention
They went on with the good news and
Not a thing did they forget to mention
 
At least that is the way I saw it
And then they were ready to go
But I asked a serious question and
I thought that would make them slow
 
But they were already out the door
I followed them out into the mild winter
And really felt like talking
Let them know I was no quitter 
 
One looked at his watch, then got in the car
They had another meeting and had to leave town
I walked over and leaned on the window
Told them I hoped I hadn't let them down
 
They commented on the weather
Said goodbye and were gone
First time they ever kept track of the time
Their time not mine and with a frown
 
Stanski
February 6, 2020 ^

I find myself walking down a lonely road
I know I look withered and am looking
For a batch of eloquence to provide
A temporary fix to my downheartedness

I like the mystique so I asked Mr. Lizard
He told me to wait for just a minute as
He was pounding away on a grand piano
Life goes on; life goes on; what is a moment?

There were no raindrops, but it didn’t matter
We were under the great circular tent
People from all climates were there
Even some from Venus and Mars

There was no harshness present but
The feeling of joy was overwhelming
I thought about my life, wondering
How did I get this far and is this far enough

Mr. Lizard told me in private that
He knew very well of lonely roads
He assured me that if 
I just kept walking

I would find the village of hope and love
That I have been looking for
There won’t be dragons or toads
Hammerheads or uphill roads

You have seen the vengeance;
The tar and feathers, but the breaks
Have always gone your way
You are mystical, too, he told me

I will probably never see him again
But I will never stop loving him
He gave me the greatest gift and
You don’t tamper with self-knowledge

Flowers began popping up all around us
The land was arid and light in color, but
Changed to fertile soil that sustained life
Flower children were amazed; their prayers answered

Sunshine radiated everything about us
Music from the piano lifted everyone
No one could remember this much ecstasy
It was sway time; tango Cordoba

Go my heart, go to heaven
This will have been, time unremembered
 
Stanski
February 6, 2020 ^
 
 

It seems so obvious to me
So many appeals for money
So many examples of waste
People want to do right
Gives them a chance to express
Thanks and remembrances
Money spent on temporary
Symbols of honor and respect
 
A season comes to an end
Decorations which cost money
Relegated to the trash bin
I often wondered why we overdo
Couldn’t we be more symbolic?
Have one plant to honor the divine
One to remember all who are gone
One to remember those still here
 
Three plants representing all of our love
Then the rest of the gifted money
Could be used to help those in need
Projects that appear to be worthwhile
Money applied to reduce debt
Or given to help those with unexpected debt
So many worthwhile things to do
I think about that at the dumpster
 
I will not deny that there was beauty, but
Beauty comes in many shades and degrees
Not everyone will always want to agree
We have always done it this other way
It is true so what can one person say
I will stand and say:  Let’s go to the fringes
Take care of the hungry and thirsty
Provide clothing and shelter
 
Stay there until things are right
Then move on to the next location
It is hard; it is difficult; heavy, like the cross
We would have to give up so much
But, I would say, that is what we must do
It provides double joy to the givers and receivers
Glorious and silent. 
Don’t you agree? 
                            
Stanski  
February 6, 2020^   
 

I have an itch to get things done
But have run into the midwinter blues
No matter my good intentions, I nap

Today I fell asleep and dreamed
The President was giving his State of the Union Address
It took a long time because everything he said was
Greeted with a lengthy round of applause
From both sides of the aisle

Everyone kept yelling USA, USA, and so forth
He could do no wrong
Even the Speaker was applauding, acting genuinely happy

When he finished everyone stood
Their shouts now were:  Four More Years,
Four More Years and Four More Years
It was deafening and amazingly
Both sides of the aisle were joining in
Everybody was cheering and happy

I woke up from my nap
Reality set in as I tried remembering
I turned on the news and watched
The Senators acquit Him of both charges

Here is a man who decided to run
In order to get our country back on track
He is an outsider and that caused fear

The attack was on but he was unfazed
In three years he accomplished
An amazing list of deeds, more than
Anyone ever before him

He has America back on track
He had the itch to get things done
And offered no excuses for not beginning

To the contrary did much to improve condition
The swamp rebelled and tried to stop him
He had no time for naps

They came up with investigations and
Found that there was no there, there

Then the impeachment articles were 
Delivered to the Senate

The trial took place
There was no compelling evidence
They failed; he was exonerated 

We won; four more years
No more dreaming; just action
America wins
 
Stanski
February 5, 2020 ^

 
Light is very uplifting
A gray day can be depressing
Sunshine changes that in an instant
The sun pours its light through
A stained glass window in church
Stage left from the crucifix
There is red, white, blue and yellow colors
Forming an abstract painting
I think of the setting sun being
Reflected on a calm Lake Michigan
It is a powerful visual
One that is locked in my memory
 
I drive home from the Post Office
The gravel road is covered with
White snow and brown dirt
Spread randomly by the road workers
It is hypnotic
A beautiful pathway going somewhere
I let my imagination run free
Where is it taking me and
Will I be safe at it flows through
The woods and dunes and over the creek
I keep driving slowly
 
I see a truck coming toward me
I am back to reality and pull over
And stop until the truck passes
It is rather narrow with all the snow banks
I wave to the driver and he waves back
Then back to my fantasy
Where will the road take me?
It is so beautiful and the sun is shining
I pass a few driveways and wonder
About the people who live there year around
 
I am lifted by the adventure and mystery
Life can be exciting when you become a child again
I reach the end of the gravel road
I must turn left very soon or I will miss my driveway
Reflecting on my trip I consider myself fortunate
This is truly God’s country
We will keep it a secret for a while longer
 
Stanski
February 5, 2020 ^

Oh, of myself and the truth
All the promises I make
Then do not keep
I forsake myself
No one else knows
Or has the power
To set me straight on the path
 
Isn’t that the truth?
Only one person can do it
And that person is me
A coward
Standing tall with proclamation
Then stumbling and falling
But never calling for help
 
Oh, I know the truth
Especially my own
Know what it will take
Have been here before
Now, again, I’ll take a stand
Outline what I already know
Put myself in the position of go
 
Falling snow has its truth
Sometimes wild and crude
Then thaw followed by freeze
Roads icy, bouncy; absence of ease
It tells us its wintertime
Nothing for sure will be fine
We will be stuck on the incline
 
I know my own truth
I have been uncouth
Lying to myself with ease
Blaming whatever including
The frosty winter breeze
Pacifying myself with avariciousness
Now vowing to remove this mess
 
Stanski
February 4, 2020 ^