Steve Haarman

If our life is one large canvas and the finished work
will be the sum-total of our good and bad wouldn’t we all
wonder what the finished masterpiece would look like? 
I am sure it would begin carefully and straight forward until
over time it advances into cubism, impressionism or the abstract 
We will look at our work and dap our souls into the oil and
cover-up some blotch or errors that our deliberate-hand
made on the first attempt
 
We look and find areas for improvement and again
do not hesitate to correct or improve 
By this time our soul is multicolored and we are
rolling in murk and laying down anything and everything on the canvas 
We cannot step back every minute and observe
but go through periods of time when our emotions,
setbacks, and victories establish or influence
our confidence on this beautiful canvas of our life. 
 
Our excuses are easily covered 
Just dab a little color
Twist the soul
Squeeze it
Try to make it conform to our desired outcome
if we even know what that is 
 
We may prance about not knowing what we are doing but
expecting some lavish outcome that impresses 
This would be too bad 
There will be no second chances
 
When the bell tolls
You turn in your work 
It will be separated by the judges
Some will be hung on the wall next to Van Gogh’s or some other favorite artist
Others will be burnt with the chaff viewed as comparatively worthless
 
I will wait to hear the words: 
“Then sings my soul, my savior God to Thee” 
And then observe the beckoning: 
“Come, sit by Me”
I will rejoice and remember words I heard long ago
“Unto thine own self be true”
 
Stanski
March 6, 2020 ^

What do we call the news?
That would be: papers, TV, and radio
There doesn’t seem to be anything new
It is already old; prologue
 
We receive slants on the truth
Distortions are common as are outright lies
Anything to make the opposition look bad
Most of this media is in lock-step
 
If one of their own is off base
There is the universal cover-up
A real quid-pro-quo is totally ignored
A phony one searched for and exploited
 
What isn’t being said is remarkable
Where is the mention of the swamp?
Full of creatures from both sides
It is they against the deplorable
 
Many think Democrat versus Republican
Maybe the titles are not up to date
Shouldn’t it be liberal versus conservative?
Why not?  This is our country
 
Why must I mark my ballot Republican or Democrat?
I wish to mark it Deplorable
Shouldn’t that be a reasonable option?
After all, that is what I proudly claim I am
 
Where is the news as it used to be?
Journalism which would not stop until
The whole and true story was told
Those days are gone forever
 
The media carries the water for the left
They endorse indoctrination of school children
They believe in murder by abortion and multiple gender beings
They provide the cool-aid as though this were their country
 
Be at peace, my friends
The Light shall overcome all darkness
 
Stanski
March 6, 2020 ^

 
Back in the days
 
Horse hooves clatter on pavement
Early morning milkman
Scheduled delivery
Early today
Regular order
Same as always
 
Empties clank
On return to wagon
Hypnotic sound
Back to sleep
Over sleep
 
Startled awake
Check on milk
A little late
Cold winter mornings
Allow cream to rise
Above lip of bottle
Still wearing cap
Looking proud
If not arrogant
 
Nothing broken
Not so far
Winter has its way
Hope it breaks
Before too long
 
Stanski
March 5, 2020
 

 
Snowy precipitation
Comes to end
Winter wonderland
May be at hand
 
Howling wind
Throughout the night
Recreation of
What had been
 
Morning light
Causing fright
Snow drifts high
And we mere men
 
Stanski
March 5, 2020 ^

 
How often do we change?
One minute, king of the hill
The next bowing and holding onto the hope
That we will be singled out and recognized
By someone special
 
Labels are strictly out of style
What matters today is how we
Take care of our part of the mountain
 
Responsibility trumps big-fish syndrome
Being the man is okay as long as
The gig is handled with dignity
Consideration for all the players
In this game of life
If we are to be regarded as worthy
 
Bullies prey on the weak to no good end
Better would it be to lead and
Protect the weak
Recognition then is valid and positive
No need to change
Your agenda is clear and humble
 
Gaze out from the top of the mountain
Absorb the enchantment and glory
Then return to the valley where
The worthwhile things have to be done
Execute with a glad heart
Whether following or leading
Fulfillment awaits you as
You live this precious gift of life
 
Stanski
March 5, 2020 ^

Difference is a big word
The margins in people’s definitions of
Certain words and conditions
Can also be huge and beyond our imaginations
 
We may fly on an airplane to our destination
One hundred years ago it was not thought of
We have earned our vacation and fly south for a month or two
Back when, vacation was just continuing your work as usual
 
I drive to an airport.  A plane takes me to Minnesota
I transfer to a plane flying me to Fort Myers, Florida
My brother picks me up and we drive to Punta Gorda
We see different trees and an array of wet lands
 
Punta Gorda has many ponds, dug to provide land for building
We are in the land where the Seminoles once flourished
The Gulf of Mexico is visible and awesome
Hurricanes at one time or another ravished the land
 
Snowbirds pray for good weather and safety
They are not equipped to tend with problems
They look for and easy entry and exit
Back when, the farmers wanted water and tillable land
 
We drive on U.S. Highway 75 which would
Take you to Sault Saint Marie, Michigan if you chose
We could pick up Hwy. 41 to Copper Harbor
The early farmers wanted a safe dirt road to town
 
We pass boat yards and villages offering the lure of fishing
And can see the tall church steeples built years ago
We arrive home to unpack and then leave to shop
The farmers survived on their wits and own produce
 
We have nothing to do except read, write and lounge
There is no inconvenience except for excessive traffic
In the end we fly home to return to normal life
Before landing tractors working land have been witnessed
 
We seem obsessed with doing these things
The farmers by nature’s demand performed daily
We complain because of minor obstacles
Farmers had no time for that, but labored on

We wait for spring.  It will be here soon
The farmers hued beams and sawed boards
Gathered ice and stored for the summer
They prepared their tools for work 

We do not know the difficulty of their strife
But to think that we have it tough is a laugh
We too face difficulties but relatively speaking
Our life is a breeze compared to those brave pioneers

Stanski  
March 4, 2020 ^
 

All the arrogance, the blaming, the lies 
and accusations suddenly become nothing
All eyes are on the virus and the unknown results of it
Outcomes based on historic facts cannot be relied on

People are worried about the stock market
Worried about having enough drugs
Wonder if the food supply chain will be interrupted
Whether there will be enough water and energy
 
No one seems to have faith in our resolve
A few days ago, in places of worship, there was joy
Now, a few days later, the power and grace of God are forgotten

People listen to news reports which mostly 
downplay the President
He did not create the virus and was criticized for 
acting prudently four weeks ago

Stopping the flights from China was not 
the political correct thing to do
Now, hindsight tells us that it was a very intelligent move
This to the dismay of the fake news media
 
Whoopy Goldberg does not know which part of her body to grab in her disgust
Chris Matthews retires from broadcasting the associated press scripts
Journalism for him ended many years ago; he was just a spokesman

Seems he did something in the past that is not acceptable in today’s world
If only are two nice words.  If only he had done investigative reporting
Looked for the truth and delivered it to the people in his upbeat style

He was incompatible, in my opinion, with the truth
No move shivers will be running up his leg
 
His heroes have vanished; hiding out; 
hoping against hope that they won’t be discovered
Their damage has been done and they want to be home free
Justice does not move as quickly as we would like
 
We, collectively, are feeling sorry for ourselves
Why does this Coronavirus stuff have to happen?
The winter was bad enough; snow, drifts, storms, and tornados
Haven’t we suffered enough is the question
 
I think of the people in Haiti, Syria, Nigeria, 
Yemen, Israel, Sudan, and Central America
What is our suffering compared to theirs; 
we have been given no insight to their plight
We have much to be thankful for but many times 
cannot be reconciled to understand this
 
There will be a day when we are all held to account
Will we be able to stand and say that we did our best?
Or will we point to others and shift our share of the blame?

Time will tell; and there is still enough time to do what is right
Deep silent joy comes from the sincere giving of ourselves
 
Stanski
March 3, 2020 ^

Nature provides beyond belief
Icy snow sculptures; carved by the wind
Reflections off the waves of the inland sea
Sunshine streaming on the green limbs of the pines
Lichen scream out an amazing lime-yellow light
Except for the water, everything is still
 
The road winds through the woods
Dunes and streams are visible
The two lane drive is narrow
Snow drifts shrink its width
Care is needed on the snowy-ice path
Slowing down is automatic
 
Here the sun filters through the trees
Shadows create more beauty
Glimpses of the lake inspire
Clouds provide the in and out light
But we must keep our eyes on the road
We take much for granted
 
Culverts withstand the weight of trucks
Water flows through them
I think of blood streaming through the body
Life depends on this activity
The lake needs its source
The streaming creeks provide it
 
The water is clear, but looks dark
It reflects shrubs and trees
It takes your breath away
Deer cross the road ahead of you
They make their way through deep snow
Are captured in photos when possible
 
The falling sun beautifies the sky and clouds
It is a resurrection prelude and humbling
How does this magnificence continue?
How lucky are we to be able to observe
Photos will be our testimony
We will attempt to give witness
 
Stanski
March 2, 2020 ^
 

A terrible unnecessary war
Very political in many senses
Did not have a happy outcome
Soldiers who served were blamed
The pathetic needed to feel good
So they took out frustration on
Those who so honorably served
 
At one time half of the homeless
In our country were Vietnam vets
Have of those serving time in jail
Were Vietnam vets.  Politicians looked away
A large percentage of marriages failed
Many committed suicide after the war
Feeling useless they had few options
 
They had seen the vile and darkness
The jungles were not a friendly place
They witnessed results of bad decisions
Carried the darkness of the jungle with them
There was no on and off switch
They could not gargle and spit it out
It weighted them down in every respect
 
There was no one to talk to
The country turned their back on the war
They wanted to move one and forget the past
But many had died in Vietnam
How could they just be forgotten?
What kind of people are we
Condemning those who served and died for us
 
We would all like to forget war
In recorded history there are few years without it
All wars are over land or religion
The industrial-military complex seems to benefit
We do not want to forget those who served
Those exposed to Agent Orange or those who died
We had better remember and pray for them forever
 
Stanski
March 2, 2020 ^