Steve Haarman

Tonight the wind is hollowing
Truly a part of winter
It gives us all a reason to succeed or
stay quiet and be anything we wish to be
 
Who is to question our decision?
Choices are unlimited and only we know
what we will be planning tomorrow and
much of that will unfold beyond our expectations 
 
We make plans and carry them out and
in the process interface with others and
routines get disrupted, maybe for the good
or possibly to our regret 
 
It seems we always have time to recover
until the time comes when we don’t. 
I look at the local funeral home activities
See that an old friend has died 
I had coffee with him a couple of months ago 
His time is gone but reading about him,
I see that he had a full life and a life of giving to others 
 
The hollowing wind does not let up 
It sounds so good, almost giving affirmation to my feelings 
There is no magic. This is a place where you do it or you don’t. 
Snake eyes is a possibility and no one wants that,
but numbers are numbers and life is life. 
 
Now is wine-light and the wine is gone 
There are memories and come morning I’ll be looking back 
I can’t help it. I always do and there will be no tears
I will reach out during the night and then remember
It is a beautiful exercise that I like to repeat
 
I wonder as I listen to Grover Washington, Jr.
What are the nocturnal animals up to right now?
The wind prompts them to find safe shelter
Are they ever safe?  Are we?
I can dig this contemplation.  Can you?
 
Stanski
February 15, 2020 ^

It is so beautiful
The sky is blue
Gray-white clouds
Floating in the south
There is a gentle breeze
Not enough to move the chimes
Shadows of trees on the snow
Just add to the amazing glow

Squirrels are chasing
Wanting the same thing
Enough to go around
That does not matter
A lot like our world
Must have power and control
This will never happen
Everything will spiral downward
Then the survival of the fittest

People listening to politicians
Politicians lie to them
Telling them what they want to hear
Free food, housing, school, and healthcare
It sounds as marvelous as the day is beautiful
The day will end, but be repeated
The promises, so wonderful, forgotten

We have our part to play
Tolerance and respect essential
We do not have to like everyone
But must be ready to offer a hand
An upward lift is what we desire
Frustration may cause our effort to expire
Freedom is very tenuous
It is a safeguard, but is not free

I look out at many trees
Standing beside each other peacefully
See cattle grazing their feed
Side by side and of every color
There is enough for every one
Still, as humans, we fight for more
Instead of offering love to each other
I stand in wonder
I wonder why
 
Stanski
February 14, 2020 ^
 

Here I sit on a gorgeous winter morning
The sun is shining and the temperature
has risen 10 degrees to 5 above zero 
My furnace is working and as
I stumble forward I believe
it is working better than my grey cells
 
I look around at my four Poinsettia plants
I harvested them from the church dumpster 
They are all doing well and if I am careful
will survive for next Christmas. 
That will be my wish
 
Isn’t it true that we all have aspirations?
Many times manage to achieve our goal
and then move on to the next? 
Sometimes we wonder why things went so well 
Many times it is because no one
was in the way of our progress. 
Many times it is because
I acted on my own and asked questions later. 
 
The job was finished after having been neglected,
but the input on how others might have done it
roll in like a tidal wave. 
 
I ask myself if I am in the way of others’
dreams of accomplishments. 
It is surely something to think about. 
Wisdom and honor may say step aside,
but privacy and humility may trump
what may be considered graciousness. 
 
Life goes on. 
New problems and chances. 
Can’t look back. 
Too much ahead.
 
Stanski
February 14, 2020 ^

 
Dreams can come true
Bottom line is never blue
And it’s always up to you
To have the dream you do
 
You deserve to have the best
Nonetheless there is the test
Willingness to work and never rest
First the crescendo and then the crest
 
You want it to feel good you said
What if you find hurt instead?
Maybe you should have stayed in bed
No effort, no loss, no nothing instead
 
Dreams, dreams, cool as breeze
Reality, reality, needs a squeeze
Idleness, idleness, like a freeze
Work, work, until you wheeze
 
O how the time can fly
And you have only one life
Your goal of joy is no lie
Now it’s up to you to try
 
Mistakes are made; don’t fret
The not doing is the only regret
That you will do is a safe bet
Your greatest goals will be met
 
Stanski
February 13, 2020

Lying in bed in the middle of the afternoon
I look out the window and see the sunshine
It is very cold and my bones ache
I see a black bird fly by and say
You did it to me, meaning it is time to rise
There is work to do.  I get up
So much neglected. 
I bag up garbage and put in car
Tomorrow I will drop it off
Plants are watered in a flurry
All my artwork is taken down to
My art room in the lower level
I change the filters in my water system
Take a hot soak with Epsom salts
Dress in casuals and catch up on the news
 
I think of the black bird
Always giving me warnings
Slow down, curve ahead
Deer may be in the road
So many times so many warnings
I think of you did it to me
Words of Mother Teresa
A wise and devoted servant
She knew where peace lay
In service to others especially to
The poorest of the poor
A powerful example of leading to
Where we should be going
You do it for somebody should
Be the five words inspiring us
 
The black bird flies, sometimes singing
Don’t forget those to be fed, to be
satiated, to be clothed, to be taken in,
To be healed, to be loved
You do it for somebody
What else is life if we are to be filled?
We have lived through the seasons
Now to live on the fringes
You did it to me
 
Stanski
February 13, 2020 ^
 

You tell me no.
I let you go 
never to know
what might have been 
I think of you, 
your decision
and wonder if you had
everything right and
were so comfortable
with the way things were
for you and how life
was going to be grand
just the way you planned
after all the years
that had past
 
Suddenly you knew
as though a seer
who could predict that
the life plan for you  
as you saw it was just right 
I have to say good bye
sorry you wouldn’t even try
without knowing what
might lie ahead for you
 
I never knew the art of convincing
and I did not wish to change
you or your dreams so
I only could walk away
never knowing what
my new life might have been
but then I am at peace with
knowledge that life has many turns
 
One never knows what may appear
around the next corner
Rejection is often an unseen gift and
an opportunity for other dreams to come true 
I think of all the chances lost and wonder why
maybe because I was afraid and shy
I guess I will never know, but am aware of
what affects me in a wonderful way
I know myself and consider that a gift
I listen for angels and watch for stardust
 
Stanski
February 13, 2020 ^

 
Yesterday I heard the wind
Today it was the talking of the snow
Tomorrow the sunshine will try to diminish both
 
But I will draw the line
Simplification can be fine
 
We know the oceans roar
Have seen icebergs off distant shore
And suffered the heat of sun midday
Had sea adventures disguised as play
 
Watched horses drawing wagons full of hay
And tornado chasers on this side of the fray
 
Known of sabers and soldiers guns
None of that can be fun
Dreams betrayed by other needs
Little people and their share of greed
 
Life becomes a so what, sort of
It is hard to sense what is most important
 
Shall I go with the wind?
Its song and force could be a friend
Will the dance in the rain bring me fame?
Or the sun, could it be won?
 
Oh my friend, it’s myself I’ll be
And I’ll stand tall for all, you’ll see
 
Stanski
February 12, 2020 ^
 
 
 

Can you make up words?
Just so they fit into what
You are trying to say?
I know politicians do
What difference does it make?
It’s just like promises
They sound good, but no one remembers
Better than banal they may add
To the continuum of their chatter
 
I like going around and using
The regular almost mundane words
That everyone understands
It makes life easier for me
No one tries to outdo a common word
With one of their own which is superior
Conversations end quickly when this
Takes place and there is no need to do this
Being a regular guy suits me
 
I just heard that the chef left
Everyone is feeling bad
He was good, but unappreciated
Someone asked him if all the
Ingredients were local
Just the customers he said
Outsiders were more discerning
So long chef
Can’t say it hasn’t been nice
 
Crazy things happening all about
I ran into a politician
Asked him what gnarciss meant
He said he didn’t know
Wondered why I brought it up
He thought it was related to gnarl
Did I bring it up I asked
He said he thought so and
Then I could only wonder why
 
Stanski
February 12, 2020 ^
 
 

My body aches
From top to bottom
I am alive
So I will not complain

Inflammation and arthritis
Are not noble friends
Are not exclusive to me
Many are suffering

The atmospheric pressure
Changing from day to day
Increases the cries of enough

The weather is very cold
Snow is white and bright
Its depth is not encouraging
Nor is the ice on the shore

A few more weeks will bring spring
Then another month of winter

Where could I go where things
Would be a whole lot better
There are always trade offs
I am not in the trading mood

I am not in the traveling mood
The corona virus is a threat
My concern is great

How do these things happen?
We have stumbled blindly
Played into our aggressor’s hands
This causes another ache

It is huge and the one fighting it
Is the person who is criticized

We offer help as we always do
How many will die

How many acts of infiltration
Must take place before we wake up

We take sides and argue
We play music while Rome is burning

We worship the same God
While removing crosses and
Prayer in public places

What kind of fools are we
The swamp people buy into this
We, the deplorable, can only cry
 
Stanski
February 11, 2020 ^
 

 
They had the words
The whole vocabulary
Few were really needed
That was part of their beauty
 
Being together
Knowing
Caring
Loving
Sometimes with only a touch
 
This was a part of
Their patina of love
Never to be lost
 
They together were
Who they were singularly
Identity of one
By default included the other
 
It was to be, forevermore
At least until death
Even then they died together
One literally; one figuratively
 
The patina of love
Depth not known
Lives on
Like mystical vows
Eternally
 
Stanski
February 11, 2020 #