Steve Haarman

I remember my friend
He loved his music
Said the “Beatles’” songs
Were worth taking a listen
Thought some could be
Church hymns – uplifting
He walked away smiling
His words has a glisten
There are many songs
By various artists
That would stand up in church
Without any protest
God gives the talent
Allows opposition
The beauty of the music
Takes its own position 
“Only You” by the “Platters”
Is solemn if you point upwards
“What a wonderful world”
Especially by Louis Armstrong
One who was never a quitter
“In the Garden” – a beautiful song
Written in a basement without windows
Moves the soul and spirit
Until the light leaves us in shadows
I remember my friend
He has passed on, but
His feeling for the Love of God
Remains in these known songs

Stanski
May 24, 2021 ^

DREAMS-HOPE-LIFE
I had my hopes, however
Teenage romance and love
Had to be put on hold
Parental control was bad enough, but
College commitment would require money
Dreams were put on pause
Work, work, school, work and work
Finally it was over just like a blink
Then real work presented
Twelve hour days
Flaming embers could not be fanned
When down to the final spark
My heart was set ablaze 
Ten years and six children later
I could finally rein in the galloping horse
True love settled me into a workable groove
My main job was to provide:
      Frankie
      Ella
      Wine
      Hot bath water
This was real life
Making someone happy
Could everything be this easy?
No!  There is always opposition, unless
You have the right partner and
I had the best, at least for me
We danced through life
Enjoyed the music
Found the beauty about us
Taught our family 
Did our job with love
The angels came too early
Took her away
They left me alone
No children at home
Just music to play
Must save for another day
When my spirit grows, and
I hear people say it glows
Then the wine may flow, but
I’ll remember:  She was not for show
Knew what she wanted and
She wanted me
Stanski
August 28, 2017 ^

Sing out your song
Say all of your words
Don’t go into hiding
It would be absurd
Words can be magic
Set you apart
Affect many others
Give them a start

The current message
Don’t take for granted
Most are lies undisputed
Then continually ranted
You are my friends
I wish to share this news
To insulate you from others who
Proclaim these negative views

I love this country
And sing out my song
It is a wonderful world; don’t
Listen to those who are wrong
We are still winning
That is the word
In spite of executive orders
We still have the “Word”

Listen to the truth friends
Don’t follow the lies of
Those who hate this country
People that I despise
Sing out your song
Say all of your words
Be brave and speak out
To not would be absurd

Stanski
May 17, 2021 ^

Fear of not being wrong
But fear of being exposed
And now we get the mixed
Signals; how may deaths
Are okay, can be tolerated
Wear you masks is touted
Be patriotic, while businesses fail

How much of our economy comes
From oil and natural gas
Just about everything you look at
From your computer to medications

Live your life like a free individual
We have all the needed potential
We miss appropriate leadership
What have we got?  Nothingness 
The world is going to take advantage

I view the crosses in the cemetery
All represent different situations
We worry now about the resent situation
And then think again of our fallen heroes

The real leader recognized what must be done
He made progress beyond our ability to comprehend
The Covid-19 epidemic provided the coverage
And this marvelous man was stolen from us
Replaced by a weak, aged, senile bureaucrat
Who had been practicing nothing for nearly 50 years

He did propose the crime bill that was so wrong
Maybe his dwelling on that decision
Corrupted his logical mind – he is now a puppet
Controlled by those who believe in Marxist Socialism
He trots a few steps then acquiesces to our demise

Stanski
May 16, 2021 ^

A guy writes to me about my poem.  
“Echoes of Whitman”, he says.  
“Echoes of myself”, I say.  
Me and the other guy who is also me.  
I am not just one being, one thought, 
one copy but an entity of much.  
Many songs, not just of myself, 
many marches, none of which I composed.  
Many parades, some of which I organized 
are all part of who I am. 
 
I heard an echo of my own cry.  
It was a lovely echo, consoling in a way, 
though, that bothered me.  I enhanced my cry.  
The echo shouted back in such a way as to rile me.  
That is more like it, I thought.  
I want nothing to do with timidity.  
You go nowhere with it and no one cares.  
I will walk above the river, not wishing 
to be lost in its currents for no good purpose.  
The bridge is a safe place with the advantage of 
being able to observe and then make decisions. 
 
I have no longing to be someone else or 
a decoy set out to attract the real thing.  
One of my selves is real, so I use pen-names 
to keep the things of life unsettled.  
My other selves will speak for themselves.  

My concepts of the high-desert and a marshland, 
except for the intrinsic differences, 
may be very much alike.  
I see the spiritual in both and 
that is my high-hand or go to in life.  
I do not wish to use vagueness in 
an effort to skim over reality.  
I know the food of the soul 
just as I know troubled waters.  
We walk swiftly, me and the other guy, 
knowing time is so precious.  
We will not take time to be measured 
on this perpetual journey.  We know
Who will be waiting for us.

Stansberry McKricken aka Stanski
May 23, 2021 ^

THE UGLY TRUTH
The ugliness is that the stated truth is 
Not the truth but resented as reliable
Repeated adnauseam by talking heads
Who all use the same words – never
Wearing them out.  Real truth, if unfavorable,
Like Hunter’s life style and dealings
Is ignored or suppressed, giving us no
Insight on reality.  Americans are frustrated
Hamas attacks on Israel funded by Iran
Border openings and invitations for entry
Many nations are represented by the violators
Still they are released into our country
The border had been secured, not perfect
But getting there with the wall 
Much closer to being completed
Cyber attacks on our energy supplies 
No response except pay off; Russia is 
Excused in totality and encouraged to
Complete their fuel line to Europe
While we stop the Keystone pipeline
And fracking on Federal land
The media is excited on this response
Former bad regulations reinstated
Cheer-leading Antifa and BLM
Violence called peaceful protesting
Covid-19 used as a cover-up not only
For corrupt elections but bad policies
Who do we turn to?  There is no leadership
The election was stolen- there is evidence
Solutions in place would continue
World leaders were tamping down aggression
Now we have a corrupt border, fuel shortages
War in the Middle-East urged on by Iran
People not working because they are paid more
For not working and regulations ruining businesses
Governors becoming dictators; schools closed
Which at least puts a halt to indoctrination
We have been given so much and do not deserve
To ask the Creator for help.  The ugly truth is that we
Must so we can stop the march to Marxist socialism
We must remain self-reliant

Stanski
March 15, 2021 ^

There is always a way
Nothing is hopeless
Pause and reflect on
What you think is the problem
Who has the control?
Is it about power?
Or can we act and
Resolve our own situation?
That is the question
What can we do?
Cry out victimhood
Or get on our way
Involvement is an answer
A look into the mirror
Try to see solutions
And reduce your fear
Take a look around
There is always action
People taking steps
Some uphill; others down
Usually with no regrets
Patience and courage
Time heals our wounds
And courage allows us to act
Our reason flows with excitement
Maybe we can act and
Resolve what is bothering us

Stanski
May 20, 2021 ^

There are many distractions
It is difficult to live in the moment
However that is just what we should do
We have one life that we know of
Living it to its fullest is what we should do
This is not always easy, especially
When our occupant makes an insane remark
Like “It is difficult to make it if you are
A two family person” and other blunders
To say nothing of his terrible policies
It is hard to stay in the moment
When you watch Hamas shooting rockets 
Into Tel Aviv and other Israel cities
Or when Russian hackers interrupt our fuel supply
But we must try because if we don’t
We will miss out on many important events
Interactions with people; observations of nature;
A body without anxiety or tension; and being at peace
The world is in chaos but we must remain calm
Know to Whom we place our faith in.  
Go out of our way to help others and 
Share our joy with them

Stanski
May 13, 2021 ^

I listen and hear the bells ring
Wonder if I am doing the right thing
How about that the bell has a crack
But then doesn’t everyone
We all need that crack
It lets the light come in
Don’t we all need light?
Especially the light that
Overcomes all darkness
We are sinners, saved
By Jesus, Who died for us and
Our sins on the cross
At Calvary and today rockets
Light up the skies because
Evil exists and God has a 
Purpose for everyone, 
Even the enemy and we
Do not understand 
A purpose for our weak leader,
Taking us to the abyss
Wake up my friends
Ring that bell with the crack
The liberty bell and 
Begin your prayer and sacrifice
Only then can we survive
And stand where others
Have fallen because 
We heard our call and 
Can remember the
Resurrection and His promise

Stanski
May 20, 2021 ^

When the game is over
No need to look around
Winners are dancing
Losers crying on the ground
Just part of the process
Could be other way around
Some trade good for evil
Doesn’t matter the call
Expediency is the issue
No thought about the fall
Claims are made with boldness
The prophet has doubts
Has been here before
Seen many bouts
Issues are misconstrued 
Partly truth, mostly fiction
Twisted by the picker
Players walk into a wall
Rearranged by the preacher
Change the rules is the call
Confusion becomes a method
Contradiction an asset
Run home 
Find rest in your bed
Then comes tomorrow
Can’t remember what was said
A story’s needed and made up
This becomes the truth, but
It keeps on changing
Maybe better, maybe worse
The outcome will happen
Time will assist fate
There will be twists and turns
You just stand in wonder
Corruption of your concerns
Now another road is taken
No twists and no bends
You already know the story
This is where it ends

Stanski
June 30, 2017 ^