Steve Haarman

Don’t make that turn
To belittle your brother
You’re in this together
Forever and ever
So easy to blame
When things don’t go right
Sometimes obnoxious 
Causing a fight

But the battle ends
With a win or loss
As all games do, and
There is always a cost
Structure was broken
Must be rebuilt
Involve everyone
Forget about guilt

Life is a story
Often it’s savage
Sometimes with glory
Mostly just average
There are winners and losers
Better to honor the game
Instill the discipline 
A better way to fame

Hold your head high
Do the best you can
Appreciate magnificence
Be your own fan

Stanski
October 6, 2017 ^

 
I am down and out, giving up on the fight
Nothing new, this seems to be my plight
I am forlorn, have been a fool
Have not a notion of what to do
I am empty, alone, no love in sight

A greater force is what I need
Someone dependable to intercede
To lift me to where I should be
So I may walk with self esteem

This will be my only dream
I have faith, I will succeed 

Who will help make this change in me?
Is it Jesus, Who will be my destiny?
I reach for His hand and tell Him
I understand what He can do

I have dared to dream my dream
Only He will make it come true

He will make it come true

Stansberry McKricken aka Stanski
September 3, 2015^

We think of joy as a happiness
Brought on by success, accomplishment
Victory and the like.  Likewise there is
Quiet joy that we have because we have
Made it through a difficult circumstance
To survive in life is awesome especially
When considering the condition we
Sometimes have to endure to make it 
Through.  By Steve Haarman

I look around the room
It is a waiting room
Once fully decorated with art
Most was the work of
A retired policeman from
The Grand Rapids area
He is deceased and never
Knew where his work had gone
He had traveled the country
Also had sojourns to France and England
His work had been taken down
Relegated to rooms in the back
Replaced by a canvas print of
A local attraction not very well done
The other wall had a barn wood 
Framed mirror in the shape of
The Upper Peninsula
Nice, but not inspiring
Everyone has their tastes and
May not like other’s choices
Art should be important in our lives
Petty matters seem to be more important
This is the way of life
A man’s lifetime of work relegated
To an attic or a room in the basement
While we remain un-lifted by blank walls

Stanski
September 21, 2021 ^

Trees with dead branches
 Squirrels will tell:  “Long winter”
Collecting pine nuts

Gray clouds predict storm
So does the ache in my bones
Rocking chair for me

Birds bathe in their bath
Chipmunk squeals at the squirrel
Hummingbirds fly by

Soft wind keeps me cool
Temperature at eighty
No rain expected

Hunters make a mess
Clean-up is not difficult
Broom and a shovel

Chatter and banter
A tip of the hat for me
They like my magic

Day soon will be done
Still more work to be finished
Tomorrow draws near

By Steve Haarman
August 28, 2012
^

The need to have an excuse for every failure is 
a part of life that appears acceptable to many, 
who join in, offering their version of a situation 
in which they played no part, but 
have this feeling because they identify with the victim. 
 
One who succeeds is called lucky, 
effort and perseverance are overlooked or ignored.  
Sadly we continue to look the other way.
Accountability has no chair at the table where 
Discussion takes place on 
why society is in a sad state of affairs.  

Children are innocent, but grow up with 
the tendency to repeat the errors made all around them.  
Bad habits become acceptable, and unruly 
behavior is something to laugh at like a comedy play.  
The real stage soon runs out of lights and there is no audience. 
 
The actors or pretenders go on as though nothing has changed.  
Their beliefs have no merit, but are trumpeted as 
the only way to make it in this society where 
good is punished and bad is celebrated.  
Heroes are exposed as corrupt and their followers protest, 
Attracting even more into the fold of losers.  

Soon time comes when there are no more free lunches, 
fish to catch, groceries to buy or markets full of goods.  
The producers have gone on permanent vacation.  
The government throws up its hands in dismay.  

No one nods understanding as the excuses are presented.  
They want solutions but are too tired and hungry to look.

Stanski 
October 6, 2021 ^

MEDITATION BY STEVE HAARMAN
SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

We are blessed with memories
Many are worthy to dwell on,
While others we may question
On the idea of them being a blessing
We should turn the unhappy memories
Into a forgive and release proposition
Jesus died for our sins.  We have a free will
And make our choices.  Everything, although
Well intended does not always go our way
People make mistakes and we, in a sense,
Must die a little on our cross and forgive
If we are hurt, what do we do?  One 
Answer is to add up our losses, then
Double down with a gift to the poor.
Then we feel blessed again.  How much
Happiness do we deserve?  I say, be happy,
But remember those with nothing, who
Are starving, dying from malnutrition and
Internally from the lack of love.  We can
Fill ourselves up by loving those who have hurt us  
As we work diligently to improve condition.  
This is not easy and the results are not measurable, 
But the fact that we continue in spite of success
Or failure is what is important.  We must celebrate 
And be in gratitude for having a loving God,
Who allows us to think and act.  Amen 

        
I will play your part again
My direction is opposite of yours
Compassion has a meaning to me
All of my expressions are not political
I hear the shout out at the stadiums
Their true feelings drown out everything
And are not sympathetic to the occupant
More or less a major put down
Ignored by the deceitful media
Just a lot of meaningless words go by
Like we are waiting for Halloween
To find relief from all the pressure
That our inadequacies have presented
I never knew the art of compromise 
When something is wrong it is wrong
The deflating of America by the Occupant's pen stroke
Is baffling beyond words and sorry is not a word
Just watch how much more we can destroy of
This amazing country that so many have died for
Where are we going where we need not apologize?
Socialism cannot be that bad, can it?
Look at the southern border
Why are so many there, if socialism is the answer
Why are they coming to the land of the free?
Your part says it’s not that big of a deal
As long as you are in charge.  I can tell
You why you may be wrong.  You eventually run out of
Other’s money and then everyone is equal
Equal in misery and subject to dictators
No one wants this, even those who proclaim for Biden
He has obligations to China; he betrayed those in Afghanistan
He has betrayed the American people
All we see of him is his back; he lacks the conviction of his operatives
His face is blank because he has no ice-cream
His direction is questionable because he has no idea
I have to ask again, and again and again
Where are we going?  Does anyone know?

Stanski
October 5, 2021 ^

WE BEGIN

Let us know and realize
That we have been gifted
And even the poorest and those
With the least in this country
Are far better off than so many
Others in this world, especially
Those living in tent cities and in raw,
Poor and unsanitary conditions 
In Haiti.  God knows what we should 
Be doing and it is up to us to act
In accordance with His will
We must begin

Stanski
October 4, 2021 ^

In the 4 o’clock gray sky
A raven flew high to the 
North-northwest.
Where are you going?
Have you been out on a search?
Going home to say you 
Didn’t find a job today and
The soup is getting thin?
You make me feel lonely.
I’m down here working the earth.
No one around to say good job or
Tell me I’m doing it wrong.
The streets are quiet.
Little more sun will be seen.
You stay steady on course.
Family waiting, without a doubt.
Listen for your warning call.
You amaze me.
Give me hope.
All things possible, big or small.
I watch for just a while longer,
Until you are out of sight.
You have done a service for me.
Reaffirmed the importance of all action.
Never give up, even if the goal is distant.
You are a beautiful bird.
I wish you well on your solo,
Knowing we will all face the challenge at
Sometime or another.
When we do I hope we are
Filled with the courage I see in you

Stanski
October 4, 2021 ^