Steve Haarman

Blame, blame and more blame
It is so tiring to hear the uninformed
blame the President for everything wrong
and on the other hand give him no credit
For all the great things he has done to get
the country back on the right track after
twenty eight years of bad decisions by
his predecessors

Where is the blame and accusations toward 
the leaders in Congress who have been 
around for way too long growing rich
Do they not have responsibilities?
 
Those who do not like the president
for various reasons have been attacking him
ever since he was elected.  He wants to drain the
swamp of all the corruption taking place
He has been under attack by the Senate,
the Mueller Investigation and then impeached by the House
He has been cleared in each situation even though
the odds were stacked against him

People point out that he is not perfect
The only Man we know as perfect
was nailed to a wooden cross
Those who blame should listen to the words
of He who instructed us to love our neighbors
 
The corona virus has people unnerved
and there is no end to their anxiety
This is understandable; a natural reaction

The Stock Market crashes because of fear
There is also manipulation going on by
Those who can play the ups and downs
For their own benefit and can survive
Easily any mistakes they may make
History shows that the market comes back

People shall come back also with a newness
It is perhaps time to reflect seriously on
The words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We shall overcome, we shall overcome
Thank God Almighty, we shall overcome

I pray that dignity and respect for others
Is part of this important chant and prayer
I pray that critical thinking returns to vogue
 
We have one life and cannot go back and relive it
When time to reflect, what do we want to see?
A path they took with thoughtfulness and responsibility
or were they part of a herd of sheep 
going over the cliff of the foolhardy

So many want to wave the flag of righteousness and
point out how the man in the spotlight failed
They observe through a skewed, prejudiced eye
When they look they will see that their own actions pale
Why did they fail when they had so many chances
They do not hold themselves to the same high standards they profess

They will be gathered up with the rest and then separated 
into the seeds and the chaff; the chaff will be burned 
Just as the rivers are lost in the oceans, these poor souls
will be lost in the neither world with their fellow hypocrites 
 
Stanski
March 16, 2020 ^
 
 

         
I woke at 3 A.M. and 
looked out the window
Long shadows of the trees 
were laying on the ground
The moon was bright but out of sight 
from my vantage point

I looked up through and past 
the trees to see many constellations
I thought to myself 
how impressive it would be if
I could name each of 
the ones that I saw
It wouldn’t really mean anything, 
except that I could

There are people who could 
name not only them but
Others that could not be seen 
in the sky this early morning
There are also people who do not 
know the name of their neighbor

It would seem ironic to know 
the stars but not the people next door
Life as we know it 
is very much like that

We see many people on a regular basis 
but don’t know them
We say hello, have a nice day, 
the weather looks good, but
Do not even know their 
first name or who they are

Most of us are gregarious to some extent, 
but still absorbed with ourselves
Other people’s cares and concerns 
are not important to us

We do not think of these things 
when we encounter them
Everything we do or say is 
wrapped with our personal interests

When an emergency or crisis occurs 
things like this change
Suddenly it is important 
to be recognized and to recognize
Those we encounter and ourselves should 
have a mutual interest in our welfare

We feel our needs and wants 
exceed those of the ones helping us
Now and then we are broken from 
this selfish web of living
We wake to the fact that someone or 
others are in need of our help

No panic takes place, but a concerted, 
personal effort is present
We strive to the fullest degree 
to accomplish the task at hand
Bring comfort and a degree of importance 
to the one we are serving
In the end of this effort professionals 
usually take over and we are not needed

This leaves us with mixed feelings; 
one of being full and one of emptiness
We who have sidestepped involvement up to now 
suddenly feel lonely

That need to be of help has been awakened 
and now we want more
Things that were of importance to us 
seem empty and uninteresting
The desire to be involved in helping others 
and serving them well supersedes
All of the other petty and superfluous 
things we were doing

We have a new outlook on life and 
one that will bring great rewards
The sense of accomplishment is 
a basic need as is recognition
We have a feeling of belonging 
which is a key must have
Along with the opportunity 
to do things for others

We feel very secure as we 
gaze at the moon and stars and
Happy that we have neighbors to 
share our joys and concerns with
Sorry for what we have missed, but 
thankful for what we now have
 
Stanski
March 16, 2020 ^

There is much fear going around
You can see it on the faces of those about you
You can feel it in their body language
Anxiety accompanies fear, as often does rudeness
It is a time to be civil and loving

Churches are closed, but Almighty God is present
He is aware of our every move and intention
He is the light which will overcome all darkness
He is the source of our hope and trust
Caring for and thinking of others first is what we should be doing

You can never go wrong giving of yourself for others
Some, even many, are indifferent toward their fellow man
Their vile and crude behavior should not be an example for others
If we care, we should forgive the bad actions that take place
Greed is never acceptable and often karma rears its head in response

We are not looking for revenge however
We are all part of the whole of our community
There are going to be some suffering for various reasons
If we do not attend to those in crisis, who will?
What good is being all set if others are not okay?

Now is a good time to reflect on how we are living
We are basically a judgmental people
We seldom get to walk in other’s shoes
We are not aware of hardships or stressful conditions
We do not know the truth of their code of living

Many people are silent givers, helping in many ways
They are not seeking glory for what they do

What can we do and how can we find out about the needs?
First we should follow the advice of the medical teams
We may call leaders of various service groups and ask the questions
Many of these people know and can give answers

We must be patient in waiting until things get better
We may pray for those in need, asking God to keep them calm

Beyond ourselves there are many people suffering in this world
The locusts in several countries in eastern Africa are wiping out crops
People in Haiti are suffering from malnutrition and lack of water

Refugees from Nigeria are suffering starvation and many deaths daily
Thousands of Christians are murdered each year by Islamic terrorists
Severe weather has caused flooding and tornado damage

Problems exist everywhere, but we shall overcome
Help us Almighty Father, we pray
 
Stanski
March 15, 2020 ^
 

We are all connected
In one way or another
Most all can agree on this
It is our team, our flag,
Our city or our country
And on and on we go
We can be proud of
All of our connections
And at the same time
Knowing that we are like
One star in the galaxy
Want our own identity

Being one among many
Is a nice, comforting feeling
But moving about singularly
Doing what we like to do alone
Is also fulfilling beyond description
It is our particular acts which
Keeps the ball of progress
Moving forward in a way
Which benefits us all
We are a grain of sand
That makes up the beach
An atom in a universe of atoms
Indistinguishable and
Identifiable at the same time
It is a good and bad feeling
Which we must cope with

We wish to be part of and
Still yearn for our singularity
We are proud of our collective
Advancements and still
Wish to accomplish alone
In our own curious ways
We long for security and
Hunger for independence
Long for achievement
As well as recognition
This is all taking place as
We are one in being
With each other
 
Stanski
March 15, 2020 ^
 

Saintly people walk about
Taking care of themselves
While at the same time
Thinking of others in need
Beautiful people with souls
Constantly reaching out
Never content to just walk by
Insist on getting involved
Gentle in their every move
Kindness a natural attribute
Bring joy just by being present
Missed when not there
Forgiving of other’s shortcomings
Never speak an evil word
Recognize the truth
Never play the blaming game
They glide about like angels
Music flows in their drift
Many try to imitate
A sincere form of tribute
Oh, that we had many more
With their goodness and attitude
 
Stanski
March 14, 2020 ^

I think back to 1918
Can only imagine the panic
The Spanish Flu which some say
Was a version of or a bird flu
Spread across the country
Affecting many people
Cemetery Head Stones
Tell the stories
Many infants and old people died
Mostly though those between
Twenty and forty were most vulnerable
When the infirmed became sick
They were taken by sled to the nearest hospital
Sometimes the route was the frozen rivers
Doctors gave up easily
Said they were destined to die
Left them in halls on gurneys
The brave did not give up
Headlines did not blare the tragedies
There was not much news
Especially on the plains
Where all were equally affected
It ended after a few years
The pieces were picked up
Life for better or worse continued
The soul of the country did not die
Devote people moved forward
Strengthen by their faith
People surely were frightened
Did not want to die
Strived for survival
No hoarding of consequence took place
Helping neighbors was commonplace
We can learn lessons from their bravery
For them it is all past
For us it is just beginning
We will define ourselves
Let us do a good job
 
Stanski
March 14, 2020 ^
 

Logic replaced by blame
Always under the cover of innocence
Like a dark clothed gang at night
Takes over the sanity of people
They move quietly and in ranks
 
Many just following as the pathetic do
They plunder the minds of the sensible
Carry a banner of Satan
Streaked with blood; not their own
You can see the red in the starlight
 
I will remain sequestered at night
While they wage their war
They act immortal in the shadows
Until they are challenged by the light
Then eyes, sunken, show fright
 
I have put the wine away
The cognac bottle is covered with dust
I raise therefore a clean white flag
And listen to Grover blasting victory music
The nocturnal cowards will vanish
 
They know when it is time to quit
My only smoke is from incense
Reminds me of Whom I serve
A large crowd is with me
Much to the chagrin of the distressed
 
Pulling for a night time charge
They thought they had the machinery
All they have are groans
Their equipment breaks down
They leave it as the weak often do
 
The moon watches over satisfied
As morning clouds come into sight
Smiles at what was an anemic enterprise
Knows who rules the night and the tides
Will not release his grip on the skies
 
Stanski
March 13, 2020 ^

 
Last year’s dune grass
Struggling against the snow
Manages to send a wave
Especially when cold winds blow
 
                Today they’re quiet
                Today they are gray
                No more give and take
                No wind to make them wave
 
Tomorrow may be brighter
Tomorrow may find the sun
Although it may be a warmer
Still too early to feel the game is won
 
                Ground hogs will see shadows
                Run and hide in their holes
                Leaving us with six more weeks
                Influenced by the northern pole
 
The way it is is the way it is
And that’s alright with me
Seasons evolve on a schedule
But you and I are free
 
                Now another worry
                Over which we have no control
                A virus that has proven deadly
                Life has its twists and turns
 
Puts our living in perspective
Demands we prioritize
Life is a precious gift
In spite of sun or rain
 
                We shall overcome
                By the grace of God
                Mankind has much to learn
                As we begin the strive
 
Stanski
March 12, 2020 ^
 

We in our own way
Slumber through life
We are fragmented
Cannot think straight
Depend on what is in vogue
For popular acceptance
Follow the crowd
Our only salvation
 
Engulf ourselves in sorrow
As if we are the cause
Cannot calm our anxieties
Do not want to
They give us identity
Almost make us praiseworthy
So clever, we, at rationalizing
Never acknowledging our culpability
 
We wish to be lucid
Clear to the understanding
But decline to speak to our souls
Are we afraid or ashamed?
What would we find there?
A path to worthiness?
An idea of perspective on
Grief and gratitude
 
The need to stand out
Is mundane and transitory
Look about you and ask
What is lasting?  Nothing
Everything is temporary
It all tends to pass away
Yes, it all ends and then
What do we do?
 
Reach into the resilient soul
Find the threads that endure
Weave a cloak of assurance
Wear it as a mantle of grace
Quietly serve while pleasing
Be your own master of content
All hope is not lost at this point
Something enduring will rise 
    
Stanski
March 12, 2020^
 
 

I went out at two
Woke up and looked out the window
It seemed cloudy, but it was full moon night
I dressed for the weather and left the house
 
The night was gray dark
Window whistled through the trees
Snow crunched beneath the feet
Disappointment was around the corner
 
On the lake side of the house
I heard the waves smooch the shore
There was no hint of violence
No evidence of stars
 
The moon was there I could see
Lighter clouds melding into darker gray
The light did not break through
Did not cast shadows on the ground
 
Beyond my sight were thousands of stars
Snow angels were about me
They were silent, but not in disappointment
The equinox would soon be here
 
Stanski
March 11, 2020 ^