Steve Haarman

Many thoughts;
many disputes
Questionable sources
of information
Agendas; lack of
ethics and disciplines
Failure to entertain precepts
Learned early;
forgotten slowly
The Right Hand
no longer sought
Different goals;
different reasons
One nefarious;
one good
 
People get caught up
Do not distinguish
Goals are confused
Ideologies twisted
Ability to discern
Blocked by orations
Sides are taken
Promises made
Promises forgotten
 
Original ideals tangled
Opposite views accepted
Time passes;
recycling continues
Presented as news
No one seemed to see
That something like this
Was happening
Felt content
in their beliefs
Whether right or wrong
They never questioned
Just followed faithfully
To their benefit or demise
 
There are problems;
openly recognized
Then the blame
instead of coming together
To solve the issues
This would violate
agendas and ideologies
So on we go;
forgetting example
And potential greatness
The oppressors
must be defeated
The Almighty
must be invited
into the fray;
we humans need help
 
Stanski
June 5, 2020 ^
 
 

So many facts; so many people
Different agendas; often conflicting
The Center for Disease Control
Originally formed to study Malaria
And other virulent entities causing
Possibilities of death
Which could be prevented
 
This organization expanded its duties
To areas already covered by other
Government agencies
Built fabulous headquarters
Had lavish gatherings
Spent millions of dollars
Always asking for more
 
When a pandemic occurred
As it recently has
They were not ready
Confused on procedures
Had almost obsolete
Communication methods
Sent many emails instead
Often to wrong addresses
Or wrong states in error
 
Sent mixed signals
Could not coordinate
Were late in reports
Not to say that
Serious workers were
Not trying their best
Responsibility given to the States
Each reacted in their own way
Many citizens rejected fiats
But followed them as good people do
 
Then the murder of George Floyd
Covid-19 was forgotten
Protests began; peaceful at first
But the crisis was there
Never to be wasted
Antifa exacerbated; instilled terror
Then looting, fire and destruction
Chaos exemplified
Citizens destroying livelihood
 
Billions in damage
A set back to all the gains
Protests and rioting
Mostly sponsored
Rose up across the
Country and
Control was lost
Citizens had been
Quarantined for months
Were now out in mass
Violating all the
Covid-19 recommendations
 
There is racism but
Everyone is not racist
There was plenty of empathy
Anti-Trumpers blamed
The President
Left wing news did not help
Fake new and lies prevailed
Deep state heroes
Spoke out against the President
They ground their axes
Helped justify the violence
 
We all have to answer
And there is the truth
It will eventually raise its head
Statements will be put
Back into original context
People will see and understand
There will be the gnashing of teeth
Pillars of the left will fall
Monuments to the Lord of Peace
Will be erected
People will return to their God
 
Stanski
June 4, 2020 ^
 

I read opinions of
Very nice people
People I know,
Go to church with,
Work with,
Share with,
And in spite of
The relationships
I am dismayed at
The hatred displayed
In their expounding

What they are based on
Is anybody’s guess
I know the “fake news”
Is a readily available source
And that personal prejudice
Plays a big part

Opinions are uttered
Without much thought
Truth is denied, replaced
By false narratives

These opinions are
Often accompanied
With the often asked question
Why can’t we just get along?
As though that gives sanction
To what they have had to say

It is bewildering
No one is perfect
Everyone has character flaws

Critical thinking is not a flaw
And the absence of it does not
Give credibility to one’s thoughts

Thou shalt not bear false witness
A commandment from God to Moses
For all of us to follow if we
Seek peace and everlasting life
Is utterly disregarded

Does it take courage to say something
Without knowing if it is true?
Does the truth matter?
We shall see
Soon enough the chaff shall be
separated from the wheat
 
Stanski on June 2, 2020 ^
 
 

.

I make my path
Not alone although
It may seem that way
Detoured, I may despair
Not knowing that it is good
And the mountain disappears
I am on my way again
To do what, I wonder
Without a plan, I can
Only react to condition
Foolishness is inevitable
Consequences unpredictable
Voices cause confusion
I feel dispirited
Vagary is overwhelming
Confinement of thoughts
No clarity exists
Stagnation prevails
My heart is heavy
Weighed down by events
Pain and hurt
Anger and fear
Hang in the air
Disquiet my senses
Turmoil, chaos, and destruction
Unimaginable loses
Including life and lives
My heart is troubled
Aggression for aggression sake
Government aiding and abetting
Their involvement lacking
Peaceful protest abandoned
God’s Word forgotten
Heal my heart, Creator
Open my eyes to goodness
Let me love and think
Let me help someone feel safe
Keep me aware of evil
Give me strength to avoid it
Make my path your path
Replace my fear with proactivity
I have never known peace
Because misery always exists
If one is hurting
I am hurting
Charge me with Your Grace
So my heart will not close
I am at my lowest
Please, I pray
Help me rise
 
Stanski
June 2, 2020 ^
 

 
Saturday afternoon
Things to think about
Telephone calls
Acid stomach
Work done this morning
The screens mended
Porch swept clean
Sprayed for spiders
Thoughts of a dinner outside
Outside on this very porch
The nice table and chairs
A cleaning they will need
The view of lot two
Where we have been trimming
Looking at more to do
With excitement at how it will look
Thinking about having
A safe evening fire
I think about being alone when
My daughter and grandson leave
Feel the presence of my bride
Gone for nearly ten years
I think of her laugh and character
Realize how much I love her
A saint and devil wrapped into one
She was a great mother
That one attribute alone
Sets her apart in my mind
In public she was quiet
Released her verve later or
Her disgust and disappointment
This afternoon is beautiful
The wind from the north
Gray thunder clouds this morning
But no rain and no thunder
Trains went through at two and four A.M.
The peal of their warning blasts
Carried into my windows
Life is in a down turn with
The virus and the foolish riots
I ponder these things
This Saturday afternoon
 
Stanski
May 30, 2020 ^

Morning is exciting
A new beginning
I look back
Reflect on yesterday
Make peace with it
Move on prayerfully
There is always hope
An ally of despair
We are in a quandary
But trust in the Almighty
Something good has to come
From all the damage done
By dangerous groups
Creating riots across the
Cities and states because of
The tragic murder of
A not so tragic person
In Minneapolis, MN
Outsiders brought in to
Propel the riots and looting
Making criminals out of
Those willing to participate
They damage their own enterprise
Setting back for years
The progress made in the
Last 36 months
They feel entitled
Lose their perspective
Pay the long term consequences
What could be the good
That evolves from all of this?
We do not know, but trust
That something beyond
Our comprehension will occur and
We will lovingly resurrect the
Goodness which once existed
And move on in the
Martin Luther King, Jr. tradition
Respecting each other and
Lifting those about us to a higher level
This can be done
All we need is courage
 
Stanski
May 31, 2020 ^

The first of June
Sun is shining
Wind is tolerable
Air is fresh
Birds are flying
Chipmunks feeding
Squirrels scampering
Virus weakening
Prayers being answered
Waiting is tolerable
Riots are sickening
Destruction very costly
New deaths are not the answer
Civility must rule
We do not need fiats
We know what is right
Cannot succumb to herd mentality
Must be our own leaders
Set example for others
Be peaceful
Even while watching terror
We know the answers and
Whose hand to hold
Each pattern unique
Some cherished
Many unacceptable
Seek out the truth
Assumptions are risky
Good people suffer
Often perish
Then regret
A survey of damage
An analysis of cost
A distillation of waste
Incredible pronouncements
In spite of this
Tragedy continues
Segments of society are gleeful
A cherishment of destruction
Breakdown of morality
Crisis is opportunity
When will we ever learn?
 
Stanski
June 1, 2020 ^

I am tired
I feel sick
What is happening?
The Covid-19 story
All the rules
Changing from day to day
Masks are bad
     They are needed for front-liners
Masks are good
     They keep others safe
Masks are not necessary
     They actually do no good
Social distancing is smart
     Thought up by a sixth grader
Vilified by epidemiologists
     Including John Hopkins studies
Isolate yourself if possible
     Cause of many deaths
Place the sick in nursing homes
This caused many unnecessary deaths
     “If you can do it safely was implied”
It was easier to blame the President
 
Walmart is fine; Mom and Pops – No
Elected surgery –No; Abortion –Yes
Tattoo –Yes; Haircuts –No
The rules of dictators; too risky to violate
Don’t go north for the holiday; Dictator goes north
100,000 dead; President is blamed for not caring
     He cared from day one and set policies
This is while he was being impeached
The Speaker of the House celebrates in Chinatown
 
People are eager to have open up as in Florida
Other governors refuse to act reasonably
Houses of Worship must remain closed
Multi-trillion dollar relief packages passed
Money goes to special pet projects and the arts
Desperate people remain desperate
Illegal aliens are granted entitlements
People are going stir-crazy
Four policeman involved in the murder of
a shop-lifter by kneeling on his neck
He states that he cannot breath
This is captured on video
 
Citizens protest; taking to the streets
Are distraught because of confinement
Antifa members flown in to begin riots
Black Lives Matter members enter the fray
Civil demonstration turns into full-blown chaos
Protests expand into cities around country
Again Antifa members flown in to orchestrate
the riots and destruction; it appears well intended
to those who will suffer the unintended consequences
 
The uprising and rebellion will cost billions to
repair and has destroyed all of the recent gains
This was the real purpose; not
the protest of the death of a human being
 
Frustration leads to anger; it is a two way street
Leadership is needed but cannot be found
Insurrection cannot be controlled
The intifada has been successful
The losses unparalleled
Closed worship houses cannot respond
The real enemy wins again
We can only begin once more
 
Justice will prevail; the murderers will be tried
They will be punished for their crime
Citizens will walk around dazed
Covid-19 will be forgotten
Religion may make new inroads; appealing to
People’s precepts and what is important
We will recover; it will take a great deal of time
 
I am tired; you are tired
We feel sick; we are sick
Our hearts ache
We cannot ask why
We know why
It is time to get our house in order
Time to remember the forgotten
 
Stanski
May 30, 2020 ^
 

My heart lies here in Gulliver, Michigan
here on the great inland sea
I leave it now and again to travel to Manistique
and do my shopping and engage in my social activities 
It too is on this remarkable Lake Michigan 
 
I read once that Manistique was spelled wrong
when officials were recording documents and
the misspelled word became the official spelling 
I cannot remember how it was intended
to be spelled and perhaps it doesn’t matter
as most don’t know or care 
 
We have many streets there in Manistique and
some are common named streets and some are names
that belong in the tongue twister category: 
Cero, Arbutus, Steuben, Nahma, Boling, schnurer,
Chavala, Poupour, Barque Point, Wawaushnosh,
Chvala, and Catagarus and many more. 
 
They are just names and people get used to them and
can navigate around and find them. 
I think they should be changed,
that is all street names, every few years or so. 
A good mix up would keep people alert, focused and determined. 
 
Streets could be named after people in the community;
people who own shops, teachers, medical people,
paper mill folks or those who have contributed
through the volunteer systems or ministers. 
Don’t you think that would be a good idea? 
 
I don’t mean to be brazen, but wouldn’t
a Stanski Street be nice.  It has a nice ring to it;
kind of a poetic sound, reminding one of
their favorite song bird.  Anyway, whatever
the street names, the town is a lovely place
with plenty of good hearted people and
I am happy to know some of them and be with them.
 
Stanski
May 29, 2020 ^