Author: stevehaarman

 The wind and sea are fierce allies
 Destroying at a whim what honest men built
 Homes drop off cliffs, forever destroyed
 Others uninhabitable because of their tilt
 And the wind continues to blow
 To watch from a distance brings a glow
 Nature, by nature, puts on a show
  
 It is foolish to watch and panic
 No need for a plan to recover
 We must wait until the storm is over
 The damage then we will discover
 A bench and its platform are gone
 At least it is out of sight
 Maybe washed out to sea
 Covered with water and sand may be its plight
  
 Where we once played a game of bocce
 We could now play water polo
 Although it is too cold to play
 We feel we lost part of our soul
 What we had been given
 Has now been taken away
  
 Thankfully we live on higher ground
 Can see the damage, hear the sound
 This will end, just like the rain always does
 Then the extent of our loss will be found
  
 Stanski
 October 22, 2019 ^ 

 I had that feeling of going west
 When I was young and had a career
 But I got lured into sticking around
  
 It was my decision and cost me 40 years
 A lot happened in that period of time
 There are no regrets
 It was beautiful
 You can imagine
  
 Then the career was over
 We moved north
 No one wanted to get aboard
 They went west 
 Wanted to be in the mountains
  
 You’ve heard the story
 Nothing new
 We were free and
 The living was easy
  
 Nothing stays easy for long
 You get involved and
 One thing leads to another
  
 Some say you are nuts
 Maybe they are right, but
 We walk in our own shoes
  
 Community is community and
 People care about things
  
 No matter what happens
 They are there and we were happy
  
 Children do come home for a while
 They liked the lake shore vacation
 Then they leave and life goes on
 until if finally doesn’t
  
 Stanski
 October 24, 2019
   

 Choose the difficult; results are rewarding
 Avoid the easy route; it takes you
 to a place you didn’t want to be
  
 I respect the guy who made the mistake,
 took convenience as a sign of love and
 went off the deep end when things 
 didn’t work out
  
 Isn’t it a duty to pat one on
 the back and say it’s alright?
 Things may be bad, but they could 
 be worse and you are alive and
 tomorrow will be a new day
  
 Try walking uphill for a while.  
 Get used to things not being easy
 You wake up with a new attitude,
 ready to plunge into new experiences
  
 You’ll be ready for success or failure
 Honor the past, the birth place of wisdom
  
 The struggle was worth the falling down 
 and the getting up is a credit to you
  
 Bleeding stops; wounds heal 
 You have hurt people, but
 forgiveness is available
  
 New starts are waiting.  
 Just don’t wait too long
  
 Standki
 October 24, 2019 ^ 

 I love the seasons
 Winter, fall, summer and spring
 So poetic when strung together
 Almost a song to sing
 Winter is dominate
 Many, many, windy, cold, snowy days
 Will it ever end is the cry
 But then we really don’t have the say
  
 We usually enjoy half of a spring
 And mostly all of summer
 Fall has a great deal of its way
 Winter again promises to be a hummer
 We are a hardy group though
 And the weathers not that bad
 It is just that we go through some streaks
 That make a lot of people sad
  
 Official winter is two months away
 Some would argue it’s unofficially here
 Colors of autumn are spectacular
 Soothing and neutralizing our fear
 Also new is the season of thanks
 The harvest has been gathered so proudly
 Whatever the weather it is a great country
 And this, us Upers, shout our loudly
  
 Stanski
 October 23, 2019 ^ 

 Play it up nice.  Make it a happy scene
 The man and women traveled to Bethlehem
 The women was ready to deliver a baby,
 Knowing, even then, that it would be a son
 The boy was destined to be the redeemer
 Stars were in the sky; one particularly bright
 Light enough to knock on a few doors
 Looking for a place to rest and prepare
 for the birth.  This would be her first and
 a new experience for both of them

 There was a calmness as the man 
 was turned down at several inns
 because there was no room available
 One kind soul offered the use of a heated stable
 There were animals present and
 the atmosphere was very welcoming

 Angels were about, singing glorious hymns
 while the woman suffered the agony of childbirth
 Shepherds arrived with their sheep
 This may seem to have been an intrusion,
 but they were encouraged by the singing and
 added to the ambiance of the manger scene

 The child was born, changing the world forever
 Nature provided beautiful music and 
 the animals contributed to the warmth

 Kings from the East arrived with gifts
 They anointed the child with praise and thanksgiving
 The baby king was tender and mild and
 no commotion in the stable was evident 

 Breakfast was not served in the morning
 The three kings left taking a different route home
 Shepherds took their flocks to graze 
 Angels watched over the family until
 They were counted in the census 
 And were able to return to Nazareth 

 The little town returned to its stillness 
  
 Stanski
 October 29, 2019 ^
   

 Our happy hour at Morris and Duncan
 Sinclair Gasoline Station was between
 5 and 6 in the late afternoon

 The place was busy and we were left alone
 To play the pin-ball machine

 We would raise the front end up and
 Lower it down to the top of our shoe soles
 It took away the element of gravity and
 We racked up high scores and free games

 We were always nervous; 
 afraid of getting caught
 They would tilt the machine if 
 we were caught cheating

 When we had enough games won
 We would play legitimately until 
 Down to our last couple of games

 Then the elevation would take place
 And we were home free until finally 
 they got tired of us hanging out and
 said we were free to go home, even
 though it meant leaving 
 a few free games on the machine
  
 Stanski
 October 28, 2019 ^ 

.
 The Reverend Al Sharpton or 
 The weatherman, Al Roper
 The question is:  Who would you 
 like to have lunch with?
  
 I want some answers
 and the explanation of why
 Whose endorsement would you seek?
 Who would you trust with sensitive information?
  
 Which of these two men would be your mayor,
 your confident, your advisor, and beer buddy?
 Who would you want as your spiritual guru?
 Pick from two men; different, though similar
  
 What would the choice be?
 Many things must be considered
 The results would probably be very close
 That’s just the nature of man
  
 Stanski
 October 28, 2019^ 

.
 The heart and mind 
 have to syncopate 
 A decision has to 
 come from them both

 The heart feels sorry 
 for someone, but
 If a law is broken 
 there must be justice

 Some with a big heart 
 will argue profusely
 Those believing in truth 
 will disagree
 Relationships are fractured; 
 friendships end

 In the end, the outcome?  
 Nobody wins
  
 Stanski
 October 27, 2019 ^ 

.
 Charlie was bound to be a hero
 Donated money for pagan babies

 More alone than two classes together
 Thought nothing of it; just his style

 His dream was to be a pilot
 Always wore the leather jacket 
 And fleece lined cap

 Flew reconnaissance between wars
 The KOREAN AND VIETNAM
 His plane was shot down

 There was a mention of it 
 in the press
 Mostly, it went by unnoticed

 His mom knew and 
 had a broken heart
 She loved him; 
 had supported his decision

 I planned to write her a note, but
 As often occurs in life, I never did

 It is too late now; she is gone too
 I feel sad knowing I let Charlie down

 He deserved better of me and
 was my hero
  
 Stanski
 October 27, 2019 ^ 

.
 Looking out the window
 I see the sunshine 
 reflecting off the 
 long grass on the dunes

 Lake water was 
 like liquid silver
 Beauty, I thought as 
 I looked back to the dune

 My heart jumped and  
 reality returned
 Somewhere, high in 
 the dune were
 The ashes of 
 my bride and youngest son

 What is this thing called life
 A merry-go-round of emotions
 The angels were lonely and stopped by
 They left me lonely and in wonder
  
 Stanski
 October 27, 2019 ^