Steve Haarman

Many items are treasured
Family photos and heirlooms
All irreplaceable and
Understandably loved
They bring memories
That stir a peaceful soul
 
Tears, too, flow as we
Think about those gone before
These are good thoughts
All very emotional
Very acceptable
Part of our humanity
 
 
We are encumbered with desire
Seeing beautiful
Things
We naturally would like them
Shiny new trucks and cars
The latest fashions
Clothes, shoes and outerwear
 
Advertising for jewelry is tempting
Five gold jangles looking good
With blue jeans and a tee shirt
Will look very nice with formal wear
And the cost as advertised
Is a little over 45 thousand dollars
 
So many distractions
Tempting our desires
What do we really need?
The feeling of belonging
Opportunity to succeed
The feeling of belonging
 
These are the important things
Along with accomplishment
Everything else is superficial
Still we are human
Bow to temptations, but
Finally resolve with love
 
Stanski on May 19, 2020 ^
 
 

I’m in the mood for angels
Because I am one too
It is nice every so often
To share just what we do
 
Everyone is not the same and
Every angel has a different name
Everything is on the up and up
It’s nice to be where there is no shame
 
We mostly stay very quiet
And observe more than actually do
We record on the roles, your action
The report is going to be up to you
 
Now and then a sing along
Angelic voices race the heart
Sometimes we sip cognac
Everyone ties to do their part
 
Angel songs
Angel songs
Angel songs
We love to sing our angel songs
 
The next morning we have breakfast
Usually it is angel food cake
We won’t meet for a while
So in this w all partake
 
Stanski
May 18, 2020 ^

Isn’t it so very true?
The lost rarely find their way back
And the earth keeps on turning
It waits for no man; there are no reasons
Love has a way of cracking up
What was wonderful takes a wrong turn
This is life and we must keep moving
Seldom are there retakes
 
Sometimes it seems it would be nice
To have a Director running the show
All the corrections come from there
The only source of ill-will
Would life be easier that way?
It may be hard to say, but
Spontaneity would likely disappear
Then slowly boredom seeps into life
 
And other reasons for sadness manifest
I hear the drama in future discussions
Oh, I miss him so; oh, I miss her so
Tripping over your own shoes is sad
Our inclinations are to do just that
We get involved in the blame game
Often forgetting to look into the mirror
 
I close my eyes and wait for nightfall
I can lie back and reflect; try to soften
My heart to the sweet music of
Benny Carter, Stan Getz or Grover Washington, Jr.
I am a prisoner of love and should only trust my heart
There is no midnight sun so I wait for a moon
I dwell on memories that shake my heart
Why does this stuff happen?
 
Don’t put your horn away; I need answers
Pride is a difficult master; time advances
Oh, I wish I could do things over
Maybe someone new will come along
Would that be better?  I don’t know
What was appears to be gone for sure
The freight train is slow tonight,
But I am on my way
 
Stanski
May 15, 2020 ^

THE ITCH FOR REALITY
This is the information age
Where do we go for it?
Many use devises
Local (fake) newspapers
 
The internet which is
Only 90% fake news
Radio is a possibility
Not always convenient
 
We communicate
Without speaking
Shop on line; few stores
Do not touch money
 
Make friends on line
Entertain with devices
Detached from the physical
But crave it as never before
 
Handshakes and hugs are
In the process of vanishing
We still seek connections
With real touch and feel
 
Who make the objects we desire?
How can we embrace them?
Reflect on their methods of using
Natural or found materials
 
We need connections
They are found in art
In the way we decorate
Imitate artistic trends
 
In our lifestyles and
Sometime soon, we hope
In our return to how it was
When personal was tangible
 
Stanski
May 15, 2020 ^
 
 
 

 
I wouldn’t like it any other way
But my way is not always the chosen one
So many time in retrospect
It should have been the one that was done
So many times a slippery slope
Too bad once the sliding starts
It is a long hike back to the top of the mountain
Alone, too, because the company parts
 
That’s why I say I like it my way
Not that I am always error free
But mostly I know the right path
It seems at times to beckon me
Intuition plays a big part
Native instincts rise in my mind
I do not carelessly jump the gun
I know the easiest is a tough grind
 
There are conflicts; sudden surprises
The flow of the river has changes
However the goal is worth going for
We never say it is out of our ranges
Day to night; the sunset and moon rise
Life even with stress can be delightful
At dawn we are ready to resume our trial
Thankful that we were so insightful
 
Magical ways; mysterious results
Episodes of life continue coming
So delightful to race head on
Keeping our pace to the drumming
Life is over sooner than imaginable
Looking back what will be your call
Mine would be I don’t mind failing
But I’m always on a mountain when I fall
 
Stanski
May 16, 2020 ^

Statements are made
Posted to Social Media
Sometimes humorous
Sometimes startling
Recently mentioned
A large number
Of abortions
In a single city
On a single day or week
 
Many are aghast
Go into denial
Instead of prayer
They seek proof
Why are they startled?
Must not know
That some states
Allow the survivors
Of an abortion attempt
To be put to death
 
How evil is that?
A live healthy baby’s
Life is snuffed out
Because it survived
A blotched abortion attempt
And it is legal
A former White House occupant
Voted for this, while
A Senator in Illinois
 
Hard to reconcile
Roe- v-Wade 1973
Has allowed over
62 million lives to
Be lost through abortion
For various excuses
Thought to be reasonable
Except to the aborted
Who have no say
No proof needed here
Just sadness
 
Stanski
May 15, 2020 ^

Tragedies come along
We know not when
Often cannot identify at first
The extreme nature
 
One thing for sure
Mankind changes
For the better or worse
And often a combination
 
Traced over history, we
Witness the strange behavior
Fear, exasperation and denial
But truth prevails
 
Not always favorable
Not always transparent
But truth never-the-less
And truth is instructional
 
It may have become forgotten
But re-emerges when calm vanishes
Good people die along with the selfish
Because they sacrifice to help
 
They gave up instructed spacing
To give aid to the afflicted
They sacrificed to stop loses
It only cost them their lives
 
The first loses, however, were
Honesty in language and
Moderation in politics, especially
When the body count rises
 
Extremism in thought
And harshness in action follows
Then the power moves
By those who can
 
When mixed results
Can be determined
Opening up is safe
Closing down is safe
 
 
If we stop the plague
Then one is good
If we destroy the economy
Then one is bad
 
It becomes politics and
Like so often
Control is paramount
Liberties are stripped
 
Some win
Some lose
This has always
Been the way
 
But in the end
A piece of our
Humanity and idealism
Has vanished
 
History repeats
Re-teaches to
Those who would
Or will learn
 
Stanski
May 14, 2020 ^
 
 

Morning sun
So promising
A walk to the porch
Was quite tempting
Check temperature
Only thirty-five degrees
About to pray
I should drop to my knees
 
It is ten o’clock
The middle of May
Winter’s season
Seems here to stay
I am in possession of attitude
If I wanted to use it as a power
I could change this with attitude
But then that would be rude
 
Having power is good
Using it discreetly is important
I could eliminate things
Like drinking and snorting
But it is not my area
It could have been
But it’s just not me
If possible someone else can
 
I get up early
Good weather or dreary
Think of condition
It makes me weary
Wealth is not power
Just a step toward power
And it will not last
Like no matter the flower
 
I am far removed
From that dreaded endearment
Just able to drive around
And of course pay my rent
My power is attitude
As I have claimed before
Must handle it carefully or
Wind up on the floor
 
I listen to the people
They are unsettled
I must be cautious
Do not want them rattled
Where is the weather
I hear their call
I’ve given them winter, but they
Want spring, summer and fall
 
Back on my knees
I say I’ll pray
They want action
That’s all they’ll say
I could do it
If only I’d stay
But I vacate the scene
It’s not my play
 
Stanski
May 13, 2020 ^
 
 
 

A PECULIAR DAY
It was a sunny day
A destination known
But not known at
The same time
When found it was closed
Our curiosity rose
We found it next to a
Restaurant we chose
A brewery incorporated
So home-made beer
Very delicious in snifters
We had nothing to fear
 
Dinner was light
Still early in the night
Too far to travel
We were not about to flight
Stopped at the Royale Inn
Just for the view
Plenty of folks there
I knew a few
Life has its twists
And I’ve been twisted
My eyes were open
I was being resisted
 
I wouldn’t like it
Any other way and
That is all
I have to say!
We made it home
I felt forlorn
The reasons
Unknown
I have faced it before
I know I am strong
Couldn’t figure out
What I had done wrong
 
The next day was fine
Like nothing had happened
We talked about what
Might have been
No apologies
Where would you send?
Life goes on
Like the river flows
Where does it end?
Only Goodness knows
Good turns bad
Bad causes frowns
 
One gets used to it
When dealing with clowns
Who are high one day
Depressed the next
The flow of life
Is often wrecked
But it goes on
Yes, life unfolds
There are no winners
As the story goes
Eagles will fly
Catch the morning sun
Reflections of gracefulness
And what could have been fun
 
Stanski
May 12, 2020 ^

It comes to pass
When you stop and think
That although together
We are isolated
There are views
Talked about freely
Then when dispersed
We all act independently
Or don’t act at all
We have opinions based
On what we have heard
Or on critical thinking
 
I know what is right
It goes beyond opinion
I hear negativity
From those I care about
I show respect
Keep my mouth shut
But am bewildered
Cannot understand
How people think’
The way they do
 
There can be no compromise
I see schooling faltering
Indoctrination becomes
The new wave of learning
Our constitution is ignored
Judges exploit justice
Which is no longer blind
There are warriors which
Stand up for the absurd
The corona virus has
Us shaking heads
Because we are locked down
 
Liberties are being taken away
Government is not the solution
The left rises high to
Give discredit to the dispatchers
Statistics show we are
Doing things wrong
Still respect for others
Must prevail
We need each other
We cherish the Light
 
We are not being realistic
During the Covid-19 crisis
We cannot give up our rights
Governors cannot make decrees
Executive orders are not valid
People want to do the right thing
But must take the challenge
Children should be in school
Where unfortunately is the place
They depend on for food
 
Addiction has never 
received the attention
That this virulent virus has
It goes against the policies
Of the CIA and the Deep State
Control of the people who care while
Those who don’t destroy themselves
Then in appreciation vote again for
Members of the Swamp to prevail
We live in the greatest country
Have a president who cares
It is time for us to stop pettiness
To come together in thanksgiving
Take care of God’s gift to us
Before it falls from us like
An overripe plum drops to the ground
 
Stanski
May 11, 2020 ^