Author: stevehaarman

Light snow breaks from the clouds

It sprinkles a dusting that the

A light wind will not blow away

Folks have been waiting for this

But overall there is a certain

Amount of depression as

November was mostly gray and cold

The downhearted feeling will not last

As we realize how good we have it

And how much good we can do for others

There are ugly people around the globe

Who are pulling for misery and anguish

They, in my judgment, are the chaff

Which will burn while the grain, those

Who led good lives, will watch and hear

The cries and the gnashing of teeth

In the present time, we will hear

Christmas carols and join in with the singing

We will look at ourselves and try to

Find ways to improve our lives.  It is

Difficult with politicians making decisions

Which are counterproductive to our welfare

We also have world dictators who control

And enslave their citizens.  These helpless

People are hungry and thirsty and although

We give they never receive our gifts

This adds to our gloom as we realize that

There is nothing we can do except pray

Prayer has to be the answer along with

Forgiveness for those who offend us

We think of three hundred people

Dying each day of drug overdose,

Especially Fentanyl.  Still our government

Chooses to leave our borders open to

Human trafficking and illegal aliens whom we

Must house and feed, using money from

A budget that is trillions in debt.

It’s the season to be merry, fa, la, la, la

Stanski

December 7, 2022, ^

We wake up and begin to worry

about the weather.  We have

a busy day and want it to go

smoothly.  Mostly it does

but every now and then

snow, rain, or sleet, spoil

our timing.  We carry a few

regrets but slow down on

our ambitious trek.  Nothing

is so important that it can’t wait. 

Better safe than sorry and isn’t

it sad when accidents take place

because someone took a chance

on a weather-covered road and

ended up in a crash, injuring

ourselves and/or others? 

We are foolish for no good reason. 

Our anger swells when things do

not go our way.  A better way

to go is to slow down and think. 

Tolerance for others is sometimes

frustrating but in the long run,

the best way to live.  Thinking of

others first is a good motto and

if followed most would feel more

peaceful.  Don’t sweat the fine

points, they usually resolve

themselves and we feel a little

lighter and can breathe easier

 and that is how we should live life.

Ending the day with anguish

and anger does us no good.

This usually affects those around us negatively.

We have one life to live and should

look for beauty and peacefulness.

Stanski

December 5, 2022, ^

Gray mist tonight

Silent as it shrouds

The horizon, barely visible

There is no blue

No light from the setting sun

I still see green

And the shades of bark

Composition is beyond comprehension

An artist would mottle

I feel full because

I see beauty

Being in awe is good

I will make up songs

Sing of my joy

Never stop looking for loveliness

Especially that once held

Life gently rolls on

We don’t get what we want

We have to earn it

But searching is so easy

Finding is still a gift

Sometimes sun and rainbows

Often just a mist

Stanski

December 4, 2022,^

.

Then snow on the ground does

not bother me.  There is not

enough to make a snowman. 

What does bother me is

the damp cold which penetrates

one to the bone and also the

gray clouds which seem to like

us to the point of showing up

every day, all day.  On the

horizon, the sun breaks

through the clouds and

reflects off of the water. 

We cannot see the sun,

only the blinding reflection. 

My wrist and fingers are sore

from holding my pen. 

Atmospheric pressure plays a role. 

The waves are languid as they lap

the shore.  People who are out

are sullen and nonresponsive to normal

greetings.  It is the time of year

for reflection and thankfulness,

but nature has a headlock on us

in this regard.  Work is piling up,

but we have no momentum in

this regard.  I have cards to write

and send but no ambition.  This

goes for gifts, too.  It is afternoon

and still overcast.  This will change. 

Tomorrow may be sunny and fair. 

Then I will feel for those who have

little food and water and are

suffering without shelter. 

Some are forced to work like slaves,

but would rather die.  Life has no

meaning for them and death would

be a luxury.  Soldiers killing soldiers

over land, once productive, but now

useless.  There is no reason other

than ego and control.  A miserable

life for no good reason.  I feel bad

about my pettiness.  Tomorrow

I will perk up and start anew.

Stanski

December 1, 2022, ^

I loved you

    once in silence

And misery was all I knew

Trying so to keep my love

    from showing

All the while not knowing

   you loved me too

Yes, loved me,

   in lonesome silence

Your heart filled with

   dark despair

Thinking love would flame

    in you forever

And I’d never, never know

    the flame was there

Then one day we cast away

    our secret longing

The raging tide we held   

    Inside would hold no more

The silence – at last was broken! –

We flung wide our prison

    door

Every joyous word of love

    was spoken

And now there’s twice as

    much grief

Twice the strain for us;

Twice the despair,

Twice the pain for us

As we had known before

Uncle Charlie

Copied by Steve Haarman

November 30, 2022, ^

Pain

Agony

Suffering

Depression

Constipation

Disillusionment

Loss

Grief

Aches

Pains

Dawn

Light

Music

Flowers

Sunshine

Art

Gardens

Life

Forgiveness

Vision

It all works out when you open up to possibilities with a good attitude.

Stanski

November 30, 2022, ^

Gray mornings may have us depressed

Rough inner edges have to be smoothed

I think about this and reflect on life

While waiting in my pew before worship

Rain causes some to arrive late

They are here now being respectful

Just a mid-autumn Sunday

Late in the season of life

Happiness and sadness are intertwined

Today’s message is uplifting and sober

The Holy Spirit is with us

The congregation sings robustly

Sun shines through the stained glass windows

Somewhere there is a rainbow

Hearts are lightened

Angels rejoice

Stanski

November 29, 2022, ^

It is a long road home and

I have been traveling that way

for quite a while.  No one has

given me a salute as I pass by,

mostly because they don’t know

what I’ve been through.  Many

know that I am a human angel

and many more do not know

and if they did they would care less. 

My job has been to observe and influence. 

There are times when my just being present

has prevented evil things from taking place. 

It is not a glamorous job but can be very draining. 

Sometimes I think that dying would be

an easier route, but I disavowed that

possibility a long time ago.  I keep moving on,

feeling worn and ready to lie down. 

My time for that has not come so I must

gather myself together and carry on. 

Those who know me will understand

and offer encouragement, but as I said,

I have never received a salute.  I would

like to rest, but I know I have work to do. 

This will take me to places I am not familiar with. 

My directions were to go and never question why. 

I felt like throwing in the towel, but I am not one to

quit when things looked bleak.  I had been doing

this for quite a while and the prospect of carrying

on surely looked bleak, but I proceeded and

completed my mission.  When I finally reached home

I became restless for the road again.  This was after

I recovered from all the strain.  My body and soul

were ready to continue my task, but the higher authority

told me to lay back for a while and really mend. 

I would be called when I was ready so I took

the long road home again and this time I stayed. 

I like the arrangement, but will be ready when I am called

Stanski

November27, 2022, ^

Soft-spoken, like angels at work

Little ladies who have lived their lives

Always there when help is needed

Some have husbands at home

Others have been alone for a while

Usually, find something to laugh about

Chatter, murmurs, and giggles

Together they put on a lunch

Looking out for each other

Nothing was heard but words of kindness

When I stick my head into the room

I say hello and watch them glow

They want to know everything

Questions from voices that ring

I’ll ask them if they’re in the choir

Oh, we don’t have time for that

And they practice in the evening hours

We don’t like to be out that late

They all agree to this apparent fate

Maybe someday we’ll put on a show

Looks like you’re putting on one now

They just laugh, then we say goodbye

Life goes on and will for a while

I walk away knowing how lucky I am

Just to witness these angels time and again

Stanski

November 26, 2022, ^