Steve Haarman

We ask for so much
Expectations are abounding
Disappointments are going to come
Everything cannot, will not be provided
 
Complaints may be forthcoming
Why can’t I when they can?
Am I always the one to get gypped?
Life just doesn’t seem to be fair
 
But life is what you make it
Giving to others is a good start
It removes self-centeredness
It fills one with a joyful heart
 
Suddenly, after a while
Your need for things vanishes
It is just what you can give
That holds value and significance
 
Temptation is always present
It is good to be aware
Know what is going on
Choose as though you care
 
Thanksgiving is wonderful food
It fills us up when we are grateful
Nature gives us astonishing gifts
So often more than a plateful
 
So easy not to get lost in ourselves
We learn the lesson of giving
Then nothing else has much importance
Just this joyful way of living
 
Stanski
March 1, 2020 ^
 

One man ate the forbidden fruit
Tempted by the shifty serpent
Suddenly he and the women felt shame
They had been misled
Felt naked and self-conscious
They had submitted and now
Covered themselves with fig leaves
 
They were confronted by the master
He admonished them and expelled them
From the wonderful land of paradise
We must learn from this
We cannot hide but we can choose
We cannot submit to others control
We do not abandon our principles
 
Demons exist in this world of ours
We are tempted all the time
It would be easy to give in
But shame would negate joy
Must not fall for a trick of the snake
Intuitiveness is marvelous
Denial of the truth takes us nowhere
 
Loaves and fishes must be shared
Failure to regard is unacceptable
The giving restores our pride
Also our sanctity
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice
Gave to us the greatest gift
His dead body nailed to a tree
 
One man, Adam, lost our innocence
One man followed by many in sin
On and on until even today
One man, Jesus, gave us back our righteousness
One man bore the weight of our sin and the cross
This man also tempted by the devil did not give in
Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him
 
Stanski
March 1, 2020 ^
 

Trying to think Tuesday when its
Thursday becomes confusing
Those days do not ring true anymore

I have six Saturdays and one Sunday
I am not lonesome for the old days
Who would trade paradise for smoked fish?

Who needs to know the day?
Even the year is unimportant when
You are actually living and not just existing

I love looking about at the birds and deer
Sometimes I will spot a fox and once
Had a bear on my car port

The day didn’t matter to any of them
Survival appeared to be the predominate instinct
We carry on like children squawking about nothing

Something unimportant but vital just then
Walking away in frustration or victory
We forget quickly what just happened

Except for Sunday everything can wait for Saturday
It is a pretty nice way of having things exist
When are you going to do this?  Saturday

When is the bill due?  Saturday
Life goes on like Saturdays
Movie days, hamburger days, going out days

It’s beautiful and happens six times a week
The car is always washed, but
You don’t do laundry on Saturday

Shopping solves all problems.  Most anyway
Six days of solutions and one day to praise and give thanks
A very nice way of living
 
Stanski
February 29, 2020 ^
 

Today I walked to the creek
The water was clear and moving
I could not spot any fish
The reflections off the water
Made you think something was alive
It was very cold
The wind was fierce
The sun hidden
 
Still beauty was there to behold
Nature is remarkable
Is not worried about anything
Just exists in a myriad of forms
Water levels are up
This is cyclical
I look for anxiety
Nature has none
 
I begin my walk back
My body language speaks
Anyone listening would know
I am crazy to be out in this weather
A mini-blizzard singing
I know the words
I know the tempo
Home now; quickly
 
Stanski
February 28, 2020 ^
 

I cannot plan these things
Wednesday night I counted nineteen deer
From my home to the highway
A total of six miles

This morning in the snow
I approach three deer
They begin to run west
One tenth of a mile goes by
They are still running

Then one swerves from the right and
Jumps a snow bank on the left
Another tenth of a mile
The second swerves from the right
Leaps a bank on the left and runs to safety

The third keeps running
By this time it has been a quarter of a mile
It feigns left then runs and leaps a snow bank on the right
 
I proceed while applying political implications
To the events of the deer, just witnessed

Then I come upon three wild turkeys
They slowly scamper to the left and then
As though it would kill them lift about four feet
To clear the snow bank on the left
They do not wish to exert themselves

I decide to add up the score
Five to the left and one to the right

The left are right about one-fifth of the time
That, so far, would make the score 4 to 2, left leading

Then I think of all the lies on the left and
How lazy they are about getting things done for everyone’s welfare
In the long run you cannot put your money on liars

So I declare for the right
Winners by the score of two to zero
I continue on to church to pray for the left
 
Stanski
February 28, 2020 ^

I am sitting here

I am sitting here
Alone
 
I am sitting here
At my computer
Thinking about poetic things
 
I am sitting here
Thoughts run through my head
They form words and
Then I type them out
 
I am sitting here
Thinking of other’s feelings
How bruised they may become
When the bluster they burst forth
Is refuted in the language of truth
 
I am sitting here
The Senate investigated – found nothing – there was no there, there
Mueller investigated for over two years – found nothing
The House of Representatives impeached him – he was not convicted 
Under this darkness – he accomplished more than any president in history
The swampsters of each party are exasperated – an outsider prevails
 
I am sitting here
Feeling sorry for those whose minds are closed
To them this President can do no right
They are probably wondering which socialist will be running against him
They will be happy if he fails at something
They detest his early response to the Coronavirus situation
They are happy to hear four weeks later that he has no clue
 
Stanski
February 27, 2020 ^
 
 

Writing poetry and musings is work
Not a job where I get paid
Nor a short path to nobility
 
In my mind, I sputter on
The results may be precarious
Thumbs will point in both directions
 
I sometimes have trouble with its validity
But I am at peace with myself because
The element of truth always runs through it
 
I am not fearful and my temperament is consistent
I do not endure fools well or
Snipers who attempt to crack my spiritual armor
 
My work does not always enrich, nor
Does it intentionally tear down, but is
Inspirational, educational, or both
 
I am alone as I write
No one to answer to
This is a strange phenomena
 
In real life there have always been impediments
Regular work and responsibilities of family life
Amazing relevant thoughts go unwritten
 
They were usually spent in conversation
Soon they disappeared like dreams often do
The basis for thinking them always remained
 
I am not on a pilgrimage to prove anything
My discourse is on life and possibilities
I find it remarkable and exciting
 
I sometime, after being out walking, come home
I am greeted now by an empty home and wonder
How did all of this marvel happen; how did it come to this?
 
Stanski
February 27, 2020 ^
 
 
 

Our world seems upside down 
Enough for everyone but many are without
Food thrown away while others are starving
Water wasted while others walk miles for
Water that is semi-potable

Buildings stand empty; abandoned
People sleep on sidewalks; live on the streets
Leadership cries out but does not lead

Drugs are a big problem
We leave our borders open to drug traffickers

We have United States Senators voting to
Abandon a living survivor of an abortion attempt
“Do no harm” is removed from the control of physicians

We want the million legal immigrants each year, but are
Ostracized for wanting closed borders

People are aghast with sex offenders
But set them free to offend again and again
Allow sex-slaves access to our country
Create sanctuary formats for them
 
I see a beautiful building and its reflection in a pond
The building has been abandoned for years

What took place there at one time?
It looks to be a haven of goodness
Many kind and decent people were most likely employed there
I wonder what they did

Was it a home for the infirmed and aged?
Maybe a private school for gifted or special students

Pictures say a thousand words
This picture tells me nothing

My trenchant mind will create a use
That brings peace to the soul and then sadness
Because such a wondrous existence came to an end

Our world seems upside down
What about our peace; our sadness
 
Stanski
February 27, 2020^
 

Inundated by news
Many topics
Many points of view
The Coronavirus 19

Markets
Condition of China
The typical blame game
Political debate scramble

Who is the favorite?
The front runner
Can you buy the nomination?

How to handle crime in a non-racial manner
Paying for the schooling of illegals
Whom have raped an 11 year old girl
 
So many fish in the ocean of news
So many opinions on just what to do
Who said the right thing wrong?

Who repeated what was not true
How many a year were killed by guns?
Who made deals with leaders 20 years deceased?

These things might be funny if
They were not so serious

Should the President have stopped Chinese
Travel into the United States as soon as he did?
Was it fair?

So many answers from so many people
No one knows all the answers
 
We need more than clowns
We do not desire constant division or a
Party openly endorsing Socialism

Absurd attacks on each other on
Who can offer the most free benefits

How can all of this be?
How did we get this far?
Unanswered for now

The night will go on
The questions will keep coming
 
Stanski
February 26, 2020 ^
 

I speak often of ravens or black birds
They fly out in front of me as I drive
So as to signal me; wave the caution sign

I feel that they are my guardian angels
Even angels like me have guards
They caution me to take it easy

Be aware of the day ahead
I do not try to avoid them
They tell me to speak softly

Your words are like thunder they say
Speak kindly
I think of these things

Birds as counselors
They do a pretty fair job
As an angel, I think of my qualities

People cannot see me glide
Cannot be reminded of what I stand for
Be guided by my presence

I cannot influence the birds
It does not seem fair
The advantages should be mine

I can only observe
People I wish to warn are missed
My wings are tucked as I drive

I do not constantly change form
My human instincts prevail
My angel-self understands

There is no animosity
It is just the way it is
The raven wins
 
Stanski
February 26, 2020 ^