Steve Haarman

We all make mistakes
Are not always right
We pray that 
The crack in us will be found
So that the Light may enter
We need the light
Must constantly be aware
Of our behavior and deeds
We are not bad people
Essentially we are good
A recent president toured the world
It was an apology tour
Apologizing for the actions of America
It was not necessary and carried no truth
The Light was missing from any of his thinking
Someone comes to this country
In a legal and legitimate way
They had had the perception
That we were an arrogant, selfish nation
Seeking power and world control
What was found was quite different
Americans give of themselves
Sometimes even their lives
Always for the sake of others
They volunteer at home and abroad
To help others in the hour of need
Money is given our of their own pockets
Just about all, of all races, religions and
Ethnic backgrounds are good people
There is love of all people
There is an absence of supremacy 
Among all of the citizens
There is a desire to get along,
Work together, get things done
For the common good
The perception of the abusive demon 
Turned out to be a helping angel
The Light flowed through all of the cracks
Along with the chaos we find goodness
We pray for continued blessings

Stanski
September 17, 2021 ^

It is hard to understand
Negativity when there is
So many possibilities
We see pandering
The hope for recognition
When in reality
It doesn’t matter
Accomplishments should 
Be taken in stride
No need for a parade
But some feel the need
For celebration and
Acknowledgement on
Every little thing
This is very tiresome
Life is busy enough
Without having to bow
At every little thing
Make some noise
Bring on the band
The parade is awesome
Too bad it’s raining
Maybe tomorrow
Right now
I am tired
I’m fighting fatigue
Weeds are growing
Faster than flowers
Where are the heroes
Bring them over
If everyone helped
I could have it finished
Too much to hope for
Those who bloviate
Are too busy to help
Just want acclaim
Won’t get it from me
No chicken dinner either
I’ll eat alone and tell myself
How good it is

Stanski
September 14, 2021 ^

Poetry can be a prayer
A delight in nature
So many things possible
To express the Hand of God
So mysterious
One wonders why certain things
Happen in the order they do
A problem is solved and
Anxiety ceases; we go on
Without a second thought
An undesired delay prevents
An accident; we are never
Aware of this phenomena 
Helping others in an
Unexpected way can change
The person’s outlook on life
It is in the little things, many
Of which remain unknown, that
Make up the essence of our being
Love one another is the message
Of the One who is the Light
Somehow the light gets in
And we feel the peace He brings
In our world of chaos 
We find calm in Him
To not know Him or to
Deny Him would be sad or foolish
Without Him we are nothing
He is the golden ring which
We do not have to reach for
Because He is always with us
How great is that we think as
We sing out with appreciation
How great Thou art

Stanski
September 15, 2021^

Poetry can be a prayer
A delight in nature
So many things possible
To express the Hand of God
So mysterious
One wonders why certain things
Happen in the order they do
A problem is solved and
Anxiety ceases; we go on
Without a second thought
An undesired delay prevents
An accident; we are never
Aware of this phenomena 
Helping others in an
Unexpected way can change
The person’s outlook on life
It is in the little things, many
Of which remain unknown, that
Make up the essence of our being
Love one another is the message
Of the One who is the Light
Somehow the light gets in
And we feel the peace He brings
In our world of chaos 
We find calm in Him
To not know Him or to
Deny Him would be sad or foolish
Without Him we are nothing
He is the golden ring which
We do not have to reach for
Because He is always with us
How great is that we think as
We sing out with appreciation
How great Thou art

Stanski
September 15, 2021^

My angel self wants to fly away, but
That is not what I am here for
My job has always been to observe;
Make no judgements; then report
What I see is troubling
However I do not want to overlook
The beauty and wonder of those
Who routinely go about their business and
Put the needs of others before themselves
These are good people, who make no claim
They just proceed in a worthy way,
Following the precepts of the One who is Light
The difficult part is the witnessing of evil
Millions killed each year by abortionists
Thousands dying of starvation and
Struggling through the rigors of malnutrition
Hundreds of thousands held as slaves
Enduring untold hardships just to survive
Brutal killings of the innocents because
They believe are of a different ethnic background
Soldiers are ordered to commit genocide
Hundreds of thousands die because of drugs
Profits go to indifferent war lords who also
Are involved in human sex trafficking
Hundreds of thousands crossing our borders
They may be apprehended but are released;
Then given shelter, food, health care and schooling
All of this has a huge cost as our citizens are
Destroyed, ruined, betrayed, endangered,
Repressed and impoverished by the actions
Of politicians who want to control and live
By a different set of rules at the expense of taxpayers
This leads to socialism as incentives are put in place
Do no work and the government will pay you
Individual desire to succeed vanishes as
The government takes away from the earners
I am dismayed but must stay aware as witness
I am told to stay calm; trust and give advice 
There are those who believe in action
They are beginning and action has been said
To have magic, grace, and power in it
I will not fly away abandoning you, but will
Continue to watch and I will keep you aware

Stanski 
September 14, 2021 ^

It is so sad and still we remember
How the world stopped as we were 
Shattered by terrorists who wished to 
Destroy our spirit and success
A nation formed by citizens from
All the nations over the earth
We were different but the same
Our country was loved even in
The midst of disagreements
Many lives were lost in vain
Many heroes were lost
Many heroes survived, but
With lives that were forever changed
Why were we targeted?
There are many thoughts on this
We came together as a nation
This closeness lasted for a while
But then the normal political
Feud presented; this was sadness
But ego and the need to control prevailed
We forgot the heroes and went to
Afghanistan to defeat the oppressors
We defeated the enemy and 
Tried to rebuild the country
You can only do so much
It is difficult to transform ways of life
And ultimately you fail
We lingered, and then went on to an
Ill-advised war with Iraq
We won and lost at the same time
We left citizens of Iraq confused
And dismayed and alone
Terrorists collected and formed 
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)
Osama Bin Laden was eventually killed
This while the then administration was
Hell-bent on apologizing for America
And doing everything possible to
Destroy capitalism and transform
Our great country into a Socialistic State
They worked foolishly for the demise
Of the America we all knew
Twenty years later we watch and wonder
Never forget 9/11/01

Stanski 
9/12/2021 ^

I walked the road
Rain was in a sprinkle mode
I was on my way to neighbors
Most had left for home
After their reunion
So I went back
Someone was going to 
Pick me up; I waited
I took some time to wonder
What was my world coming to?
Many things to do and a body
That was beginning to show wear
My home was up for sale
My bride had died and after
I had been abandoned
By one I had a covenant with and
Had taken care of for six years
A head injury had changed
Her perception of life and 
I was the loser or maybe 
In the long run, the winner
Not that life is a contest
I thought about my community
I loved doing work which improved it
It seemed worthwhile and was fulfilling
Many wondered how I did it and
All I could say was that I showed up
My favorite time was when the
Angelus Bells were ringing at noon
It was a good time to pause and pray
Everything we do is for the
Honor and glory of God
I will back away from this work
After I complete a few more projects
My body tells me it is time
My ride show up and I am off
Hoping to get to the Church on time
The rain has stopped and the
Sun is shining through the clouds
It will be a lovely day

Stanski
September 12, 2021

Moon beams
Extreme pains
Plans made, but
Artificial bones have
Us tracing back
It seems sound
To find ground
Where we 
Stand proud
Defy misery
Hold hands
Dune grass
Sings in strands
A symphony 
Searching skies
Mystery flies
Heavens nod
In wonderment
Soft light glows
Into open souls
We feel ascent 
Take tongues
But understand
This strange trip
Begins to rip
Doubt away
Harbored fear
No longer here
Emptiness 
Filled to full
Stranger things
Brought to light
Do not compare
Possible now to
Take the steps
If you dare
Body wakes
Gone the aches
Reverence takes
All the space
Sky and clouds
Hide all scrapes
Now the race
Ahead takes place
Feel no disgrace
Just in watching
Give a cheer
You can do it
We did once
And you knew it
Nothing to prove
While in this groove
Settle back
In pure delight
No urgent need
We did succeed
Just being here
Without fear
Having no 
Untoward notion
Just devotion
To each other
Sister and brother
Lady and lover
Musketeers 
Side by side
All for one
One for all
Soon announce
We heard a call
New agenda
Gone, for
A new track
Calls us
Take it 
Even as
No one knows
Where it goes
We’ll be back
Share our woes
Our victories
All mysteries
Our crown of joy
Like a badge is worn
One bodies once torn
But now healed
This much revealed
But nothing more
The rest is sealed

Stansberry McKricken aka Stanski
September 16, 2016 ^

Today is a new day
Yesterday’s challenges are gone
Replaced by even greater ones
Our work is definitely not finished
We romance with the thoughtful peace
But through whom will this peace come
We are victims of those who bloviate
Usually they are one and done
False promise; loss of dignity
No shame; no sorrow in this game
An attempt at control to what avail?
The misery of all will be the same
But we begin; each in our way
We can focus on what we see
Do what we should, merrily 
An awesome dedication to 
An important part of life
Not one, but all moving forward
Creating goodness; eliminating strife
We are all just parts of one great whole
The loveliness of nature is our body
The Father above is our soul

Stanski
September 10, 2021 ^

We walk along the sandy shore
And who could ask for more?
The sun’s out there, but a few clouds too
Which give reprieve from the heat for you
The little creek’s deep and you take off your shoes
Nothing’s going to bite you, so there’s nothing to lose
You see some people, they look like dots
When they get closer you see that they’re tots
Where are their mothers and how about dads?
But then we see them running up and it kind of makes us glad
They stop and wave and we wave back
Then they jabber to the parents about this and that

My friend Dave’s dog is gone for the day
But there are enough dogs with which to play
They are cute little things and they won’t bite
The grandpa man said they didn’t even fight
I believe him, I think, and said as much
Then laughed as though he was out of touch
Kept on walking; the sun was bearing down
We needed a break from it to save my burning crown

At a friend’s house we found an empty deck
Took a load off our feet and thought what the heck
Believed no one home but then it never fails
A bid to come in for a drink, I’ll move the copper rails
Found a chair and sat down it was nice
Had myself a water, no lemon and no ice
Plans made for dinner; the plans unfold
Half-hour to walk home and we walked the road

So we had wine and then dinner at seven
What can I say it was like being in heaven
Everything seemed to be going our way
It was just one more beautiful day.

Stanski
September 9, 2021