Steve Haarman

The wind is howling

While the lake

(An Inland Sea)

Just roars

Rain drops wet the ground

Temperatures linger

Just above freezing

During the day

It warms to the low 40’s

It is still fall or autumn

Most of the dead pine needles

And leaves have fallen

At 4 A.M. the moon was bright

And several constellations

Of stars were visible

The waves and lake

Have reclaimed the beach

Water is at its highest level

The dunes are protected

By the powers to be

But nature acts without permits

The DNA and DEQ means nothing

Arrogance buys nothing

We are just witnesses

Standing in wonder

Thankful for existence

Stanski

November 25, 2020

How important is our banner

If it has no meaning

All the words and their might

If they only remain as dreaming

You see the grin, the flashing teeth

We’ll see you all next season

Not considering we might not be back

Due to sickness, death, or any reason

We march on though – brave and bold

Tending to what is important

Stepping by those who are in the way

The sick, needy and otherwise impotent

We have our things, and what we do

Our agendas clear we stick to the rule

There is more along with this

Other groups that also think they’ll do

Fingers are pointed at the other guy

Who doesn’t seem to have a clue

Those are the kind we’re talking about

They get in the way of our being home free

Ignore the fact that they need help

Unaware of their misery, but

There is one who stops and listens

Hears and knows what the deal is

Gets the crumb-bag back on his feet

Makes sure he is safe and then pays his bills

The Samaritan knows who his neighbor is

He knows the story of love and

Is content to serve those in trouble

Never had a need for a banner

Stanski

November 24, 2020 ^

I wonder about a lot of things

Some important, others frivolous

I wonder if Dr. Stork advertising

Co-Q10 is an obstetrician-gynecologist

I think about the man at the car-parts store

Waiting in line, then dropping his basket

And walking out to go order on line

Someone could trip over it and be injured

But the affirmation of bad behavior goes on

I wonder how close we are to being

The overripe fruit dropping to the ground

As Khrushchev warned Kennedy when predicting

That our country would become communist

I wonder about the swamp and corruption

Entering congress as paupers; leaving as millionaires

I think about who the government is working for

When they raise taxes and impose regulations

I wonder why people put their parties against each other

Democrat versus Republicans much like football teams

Michigan State University versus University of Michigan

They are not aware apparently that the parties have changed

John F. Kennedy would be a conservative Republican today

I wonder why some politicians want to get back

into the Paris Climate Agreement

As It was before where we are taking the hit financially

while China walks along with India

I wonder why we want unlimited illegal immigration

And are willing to pay for their housing, food and health care

I wonder how those who have lost their jobs because of Covid

Feel about the government forgetting about their condition

I wonder about destroying our oil, gas, and coal industries

After we have become energy independent and have the cleanest air ever

I wonder if Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer will be put on hold

Until after the Christmas Holiday Season is over

Stanski

November 24, 2020

The pictures we see

Leaders refuse to follow their own rules

Speaker of the House, Pelosi

Gets her hair blown out

Forgets about wearing a mask

Blames the shop owner

Says it was a set up

Shop owner closes her business

Governor Whitmer cautions about

Heading to northern Michigan to

Enjoy the Fourth of July

But her husband asks for cuts

To get his boat out of storage first

He was just kidding, of course

The Mayor of Philadelphia

Closes the restaurants in Philly

Then crosses the state line

With family and friends

To eat out at one of their dinners

He is caught, called a hypocrite,

But doesn’t care; insanity

Governor Newsom of California shuts

Down group gatherings over ten

Then has a party for twelve

Indoors in a closed off room

No social distancing or mask wearing

He says it was an outdoor event until

A photo showed the truth

I should have left he claims when he

Was the one who put it all together

Hypocrisy, greed, stupidity are not excuses

These are our leaders who have used

The Chinese virus to become dictators

And their dictates have cost many deaths

Because of imposed hospital rules

School closings is a setback for students

Many will not be receiving a good meal each day

Although it will save them from a year of indoctrination

Mom and pop businesses will be closing forever

While the big box stores thrive except

You can’t by certain products.

Follow the science they say then power play

Stanski

November 20, 2020 ^

I believe in God.

A strong belief, even though

I cannot see Him; touch Him

or hear His perceived stern but gentle voice

Of my own life, I do not know what to believe. 

I am like a blade of grass, a leaf, a grain of sand

I basically endure what life throws at me

And have never failed to step up to the plate

I have suffered losses and success and

have never become bewildered because

I believe and know there will be a tomorrow

I don’t believe in softness and with

any victory I do not shed the hollowness

which I feel as an individual because

I know that I am basically insignificant

and arrogance, should I have that,

could lead to complacency and indifference

But I did what I did and still do without

waving or keeping score.  I made

my decisions and am accountable whether

I meant them or thought about them twice

It is all history now and looking back I wonder

what happened because I flourished, without

drama or purpose, just because I felt what

I was doing was right.  Like the grains of sand

on the beach, I endured

Stanski

November 20, 2020 ^

Teacher Unions demand more money

But the teachers refuse to go back to work.

The Chinese Virus is the excuse

The union wants total control

No charter schools, no private or

Parochial schools.  They have a

Marxist agenda; are against

The nuclear family and want to

Control what is being taught

And on what schedule

Who wins and who loses?

A question not hard to answer

The Blacks whose lives do matter

Are diminished as they are sent to

The worst schools which have no valid

Expectations from them.  Many never

Graduate.  They miss the father figure

In their lives and mothers are rewarded

When they have more children

Teachers have little say

They are issued orders

Union bosses benefit as they are

In charge of the money

We are dumbing down our students

And indoctrinating them at the same time

Who knows what to think?

Not the discouraged parents or frustrated teachers

We are stuck for now until we can

At last, drain the swamp

Stanski

November 20, 2020 ^

The yard was under my care

Offered my help in the house

When it came to the garden

I did not tend the flowers of the season

Sometime I fertilized and watered

When they drooped I snipped them off

Otherwise the deer did the sculpting

My bride loved to read and knit

She also took pride in sewing

Put her Bernina to heavy duty work

She was a great cook and

Had her famous dishes

Today the children say they are making

Mom’s lasagna, mac and cheese or taco soup

When I moved large rocks in the yard

She would point to where they should go

Her caring was sincere and she loved to laugh

She would have been 79 this year

Stanski

November 19, 2020

Come in my friend. 

You look cold and depressed. 

Let me get you a warm drink

and let us sort things out. 

I have my music.  I have a few chords,

but enough to get by. 

I will share with you and listen when

you have something to say or confess. 

There is a lack of love in the market place. 

A lot of disinformation exists

and many believe it. 

This, in a sense, takes away their liberty. 

We don’t want this, friend.

It is the opposite of what people need. 

They want respect and encouragement,

one of my chords.  So many are out there

doing good word, good deeds and doing

them quietly and privately, not wanting

recognition for these specific actions. 

This is another chord.  You don’t need rejection,

but rather the feeling of belonging. 

Opportunity, too, is important and

I know that you are aware of this. 

A lot of opportunity exists and

we should not be afraid to

step up and take action. 

Sometimes our need for security

gets in the way of our moving on this,

my friend, but if we don’t take action

we will eventually lose our security on

a permanent basis and live in fear. 

Rather we need accomplishment and

with that will come a little recognition

which we all need.  We can bring about

a peaceful society. Another one of my chords,

we need the hand of the One who sacrificed

His life for us.  It is the harboring of this truth on

a continual basis that is so important. 

You will be uplifted and kept warm,

my friend and I hope you liked my music.

Stanski

November 18, 2020 ^

I sit with a wondering mind waiting for words to come

that will bring fresh air to what I write.  We are in what

appears to be a divided country, but it is not an equal division. 

There are many empty heads walking around oblivious to what is

taking place in their community, local schools and government. 

They appear to have no interest or are just content to live

their life as they have been with no apparent purpose. 

For many it is just meal to meal, watch television shows and

go to bed.  Some are slowly indoctrinated and are only aware of

the last thing they have read.  Many tend to be on the left because

they were good union people and followed directions accordingly. 

Now they automatically vote for those on the left without

giving it much thought.  Others vote for the left because

their family has always voted for the Democrats for generations. 

The same goes for those on the right.  They do not realize that

the two parties are not the same today as they were sixty years ago.

A good share of the congressional people who represent us are

members of the swamp.  They have sold their souls in the most

discrete way for financial gain which come with an attachment—

that is they have an obligation to their benefactors.  There are

many people who have drifted away from their party affiliations

and are voting according to their conscience.  They are called

Bible-thumping, Gun-clingers and Deplorable, but they are

the majority.  They want border security, the constitution,

a small Federal Government, a strong Military and low taxes. 

They desire equal opportunity for all and are respectful of others rights.

My yearning is for a drained swamp, prosecution of the criminals and

a separation into two political parties which basically have

the same goals but differ in the way to achieve them. 

I also yearn for schools of choice which avoid indoctrination

but teach the constitution and our history accurately.

The students are enclosed in a small space and no two are alike.

They learn in different ways and may be bored within a short time.

To teach effectively is not an easy task and to drift away and

give up on your purpose happens as we review test results.

We have many broken systems to fix in this country and

Socialism is not a valid option.

Stanski

November 17, 2020 ^

We are two different people, as it should be,

and love brought us together to connect and

share our beings with each other and

you needed attention and care and

I was the one who could provide this and

give you stability and some of the best years

of your life and my life, too, as far as that goes. 

We shared our tears, our laughs, our writings

and we read together or alone and traveled to

areas previously unknown and

everything was grand and when we returned

we had plenty to do.  I worked and provided  

an art room for you and I laugh when

I think of all the storage room I provided

which never seemed to be enough as clutter

seemed to be your inspiration and you

completed many pieces of beautiful

abstract art, much of it from materials

that nature provided and I kept busy

with my landscape work and contentment

existed.  I cooked for you, cleaned for you,

washed your clothes, knowing it helped you

with your pain and depression and I sang

my songs for you and continued to love you

and still do even though your head injury

changed everything and your imagination

went wild.  You felt, because of your

brain chemistry, that I would be happier

without you.  Your mind made this up and

as days went by you extrapolated your story

and during the years we were seeing doctors

and getting you back on your feet you made

your resolve that your condition was

everybody’s fault but your own, and

then saw to it that we would part. 

You broke your covenant to me and

with it took a piece of my heart. 

You said you were the light but never took

the time to overcome my darkness,

no you never took the time to overcome

my darkness.  We had a unique kinship,

a once in a lifetime affair and you,

yes I say you, let it slip away like

the disappearing dreams of yesterday.

Stanski on November 16, 2020 ^