ABSTRACT PONDERING


The real world escapes me as 
I dwell in the late October landscape.  
Beauty, still existing, lifts me and 
I make plans for next year.  
This is often consuming, 
but never tiring.  
Possibilities cross my mind, 
I get excited, but 
probabilities settle me down.  
This is a one man show and 
Rome was not built in a day.  
The trees are empty and 
won’t be filled for five or six months.  
I have plenty of time to make my plans and 
no pressure is mounting because 
I am on my own and call all the shots.  
There is one dead tree to take down.  
It is on adjacent property, but 
looms as a danger.  
Branches break off at the top and 
fall where children play and cars are parked.  
Broken concrete will have to wait until spring.  
I stay focused on what is in front of me and 
exist in a peaceful trance.  
The sun will soon be setting.  
All is well in Stansville.

Stanski
October 23, 2021 ^

THE ACT OF GIVING

How could I afford to
Disobey that call?
A distant call, but
Insistent in the way
It rang out for help
Help for people, in need 
Whose voice had to be 
Heard and was heard and
Reverberates still,
This day and everyday
And if ignored who is
Deceived, the one who
Should be receiving or
The one capable of giving
Whoever summons me,
Has need of me or of
What I can do for them
So, I have no choice,
Except one, and that is 
To give everything that
I can, not until it hurts,
But until it feels good
Only then can I sleep
And not be afraid
Without a racing heart
Without self-inflicted 
Pain for running away
I have been on the other side
Waiting for a favorable answer
To my needs and it is not
Desirable to be in pain as
You hope for something
That you are sure will be
Denied and you made a
Pledge, a Divine thing, to
Be available forever if only
My need could be fulfilled
And so it is as I give freely
I am helping someone and
Helping myself for I feel
The contentment that
Giving brings and avoiding
The wrath should I not

Stanski
October 22, 2021 ^

A MEDITATION

Our beautiful bright minds
Go dark time and time again
Then plans for improvement
And dedication of our lives
Evaporate and we find
Ourselves starting over
We are lucky to have a
Loving creator who wants us 
To succeed and proceed 
His Son died for our wrongs
And now seeks goodness
We are fragile and must
Continuously look to Him
For guidance hoping that
He will respond to our wishes
We must be patient in waiting
We are good at justifying our wrong
And often forget to pray for help
We fail to act when we should
In a positive way, often choosing
The dark, but His Light 
Overcomes our darkness
It is time now, this very day, to
Turn to Him with gratefulness
For His compassion

Stanski
October 21, 2021 ^

WIND


The wind
Blows
We take 
No note at first
Until its crescendo 
Alarms us

And soon
The roar
Will have us reeling
And 
Engaged in wonder

Then
Almost without
Perception 
It passes and silence
Overwhelms our senses

We are left
Bewitched 
Numb
And in awe 

We know little
Are prepared for less
Green mountains 
Have no meaning

Roaring rivers 
Frighten us
May cause stress
Sacred truths 
Diminish us

Stanski
October 21, 2021 ^

WORRIED IN THOUGHT

This day
Sunny and bright
Cool breeze
Gives hint of autumn
I sit and
Think about 
Those close to me
Having trouble in their lives
In one form or another

Nothing in the air
Speaks of rain or gray weather
Nothing we remember today
Speaks of how
We must reach out 
To take the hand of Him
The One Who will lead us 
On the path where we belong

When that thought comes to us
We will find peace and contentment
Our fear of the very worst
Keeps away the simple solutions
To our complexity

Pumpkins ready for harvest
Sweet corn is saying goodbye
Tomatoes by the bushel ready for canning 
The hand of God is everywhere
We, sorting our things out 
Seem to forget Him at the most critical time
When will we learn?
Will He ever be whom we seek first?
The day proceeds
We grow slowly
Still loved by Him

Stanski
October 20, 2021 ^

A SUNDAY MORNING CRITIQUE

Mournful music playing
Cantors practicing parts
Preceding congregation
On simple parts as if
The people could not
Remember the alleluia or 
The Amen 

Then the polite waiting as
The reader finished and then
Took his seat.  Then the next
Reader repeats the process
Until all the readings are finished

We have just wasted about three
Minutes of time delaying the exit
Of those in a hurry

Today for the sermon we will hear
Apologies for the conduct of the
Homosexual priests, bishops and
Cardinals.  We will pray for the 
Victims and give no mention of
Changing the man rules of the
Church

It is sad to me that women cannot
Be priests and that priests cannot 
Marry.  They live in luxury and are
Treated like noble men even though
The majority have no clue of whom
Jesus really is.   Amen

Stanski
October 19, 2021 ^