Steve Haarman

Giant rollers flatten blacktop
Steam rises leaving shining surface
Little children look for reflections
Are scooped up by their mother
A world of wonder vanishes
Mother is non-stop with warnings
Children undaunted as they head to park
Swings, titter-tots, and merry-go-rounds
Be careful, repeated, is what they hear
Excited voices trump all warnings
 
Ice-cream man rides by ringing bells
Mama, mama, can we, can we
Excited requests to weary mother
She has enough change to satisfy
Everyone is happy as they head home
The work-men have finished
Family crosses over the black road
Tomorrow it will have stripes
Yellow and white; will be a sight
The happy family is full of delight
 
Stanski
February 11, 2020 ^

I can’t let anything slow me down
There isn’t much time
My nap is scheduled for twelve
It’s already ten minutes after

I told a friend yesterday that
I get up early every day
She asked me what early was
I told her seven o’clock

She just smiled, almost laughed
What time do you get up, I asked
Five-thirty was the answer. Why?
Have to get ready for school

She is a teacher
Has a great sense of humor
By the time you correct papers
And write suggestions on
How to improve to the students
You probably don’t get much sleep

I could use a little more, but
I don’t mind doing what I am doing
It means a great deal to her
Helping young people grow and
Doing it in a way that makes
The young person feel good is a real talent

Caring for others is important as are
Friendly greetings and well wishes
They do more good then we can imagine
With children it can impact their lives

When I look back on my time in school
I try to think of any teachers who
Had a strong effect on my being
There were a lot of nice teachers
But only a few who impacted me profoundly

Outside of school I have had
A good handful of mentors
I would like to thank them all in person
But it is too late for that
So I will try to honor them
By serving and helping others
That will have to do
 
Stanski
February 11, 2020 ^
 
 

 
I got a call from a guy I knew
Hadn't seen him in quite a while
He waited for me to say something
 
I thought to myself, you called me, a==hole
Finally I asked him what he had to say
After all this time?
 
How did you get my number I asked
Well that’s my business he answered
 
What do you want I said
Just to see how you’re doing
 
I’m doing alright and I want to tell you
I hold no grudge against you and
I forgive you for taking all my wood
 
And you can also keep my router
That I never picked up
 
And by the way, don’t call any more
And one more thing
I never liked your Chihuahua
Or your wife
 
She was a good cook, but
You ate too much
You might try losing some weight
 
Remember, no more calls
I won’t be here
 
Stanski
February 11, 2020 ^
 
 

I look at my blank sheet of paper
Remember the winter stream of water
A creek that flows into Lake Michigan
There every day, always moving even
When covered by ice and frozen snow
I think of this when I am about to give up
If I want to accomplish anything
I must keep taking the steps
It would be easy to give up
Lay down the pen and walk away
Hope that I might feel better about it tomorrow
But this is today and tomorrow isn’t here
I think of how gray it has been
The sun graces me every so often
Through the huge puffy clouds above
It streaks through the trees in the south
And shines on the branches in the north
It is beautiful and lovely and a rich gift
 
The weather forecast predicts cold
Subzero weather is as depressing as
The bright full moon is uplifting and beautiful
Thinking of cold before it is here does no good
If it comes I deal with it as best I can
Hoping that there is some offset
From my window I can see large chunks of ice
Waves bring pieces of it to shore where it crashes
The mountain grows and is amazing
Wind blows, but not hard enough
To remove the snow from the green trees
The sun has somehow melted the roof snow
And drops of water fall like rain
It is mysterious and mystical
I have read stories of survival
Conditions there are grim and hopeless
What I have is nothing in comparison
I should be able to survive today
 
No need to worry about today and
Tomorrow will take care of itself
 
Stanski
February 10, 2020 ^
 
 

Is it wiser to recall
the treasures of life,
especially a life well lived
than endure the weight of grief
that never seems to leave because of
our insistence that it doesn’t
 
Grief is not a bad thing as
it gives us something to hold on to
but then, the recollection of the joys of life
which included the one we are grieving
are too precious to just let go. 
 
They had their message,
had we listened more carefully,
and that was to give back to the world
all that it has given to us. 
 
We cannot replicate another’s life 
It contained, without doubt
sorrow, pain and frustration
that was never shared, for
it was personal and private
 
The goodness and caring
were routine and remembered. 
The laughter and joy
coming from the least of things
is a lesson not to be forgotten
 
The stardust has been
given back to the earth
Has turned into dust glow
And then as we ponder, realize
That it has been given back again
As we remember this life well lived
 
Grieve we must but then remembering
is a necessity if we are to
make peace between the two and
live the life of giving back
 
Stanski
February 9, 2020 ^

Some disagree
Even agree to disagree, but
Do so respectfully

Then throw a hardball
When you are looking the other way
Hope they cause some pain
Rain on your parade

But what happens next
What is in the text?
Are they happier?
With a leg up on you

Or regretful because
They broke their pledge

I have to conclude
It was all talk in the first place
They cannot stand to be wrong

Have failed to apply critical thinking
To what they are doing or saying
Scavengers of information from
Unreliable sources

Words can be hypnotic
Draw one into the web
Not knowing or wanting to know
That only truth can vindicate

What can they do now?
Beat you up or walk away?
Neither is a good choice

They have offended
Broken an alliance
Not been true

I am okay
Need no rebuttal
Have no desire to rebuke

I can live happily with my position
Will not yield control of my emotion
I pray; may karma have its way
 
Stanski
February 8, 2020 ^

Memories so sacred began
As moments once lived
It would be wonderful
To crown all the players
With a wonderful array of jewels
But they are gone; many of them
And all I can do is dream;
Remember the magic wonders
Listen for angel wings
One will laugh until he cries
And cry as long as the tears last
The world of mystery and beauty
Times that must stay in the past
 
So many events and gatherings
My mind would like to linger
But there is today to live
A gentle little reminder
What is past is gone
Except in my own mind’s eye
I struggle, but start; today begins
Cannot sit around and dream again
Must get moving; get things done
Begin a new page; a new din
When it is over I may look back
Wish things were different like
The morning’s light; not the night’s black
 
Stanski
February 8, 2020 ^

 
We’re halfway through winter
Looking for the promise of spring
Never going to get it though
Except for a possible brief fling
 
                So you calm yourself
                Plan your days
                Keep yourself busy
                There’s no other way
 
I enjoy listening to
The sounds of the wind
Sometimes overbearing
But, mostly a friend
 
                The sun, too, has its way
                Into our inner glow
                From light on the barren ground
                To reflections off the snow
 
The full moon is ours to enjoy 
Especially this time of year
Enhancing the presence of stars
Celestial calming of any fear
 
                Halfway through the winter
                We should cherish that which is dear
                When spring finally makes its way
                We’ll be ready to welcome her
 
What would we give for soft rains?
How we would dance for warm winds
We’ll take our chances at the table
This is a foolish dream; we can’t win
 
 
 
Stanski
February 8, 2020 ^

This day started gray
No sunshine promised
Dampness allowed the
Cold to penetrate bones
Errands were run in the city
Then a trip to the post-office

Strangely, I had been thinking
Of friends from long ago
One that I have respect for
Was not open to communication
I could understand completely

I received a note from
A more recent acquaintance
Saying correspondence with me
Was not going to be part of her life
A chapter closed, life goes on

I received a package from another
College friend containing a book
About the restless waves in 
the life of a failed candidate for
The Presidency of the USA

Also included was an article 
Downplaying President Trump's
Success even while being under 
Attack from the left since before 
He was sworn in
Eventually impeached with glee
In a bizarre hearing where he was
Denied witnesses and legal representation
Only to acquitted by the Senate with
The help of Alan Dershowitz, who
Is a self-described liberal Democrat
But believes in the Constitution

I believe our country needed an outsider
I do not have a gun, but I thump my Bible
And am happy to be a deplorable
I made my vow to God and have honored it

The swamp is slowly being drained
Many think it is left versus right
No, it is we, the outsiders, versus 
The advocates of statism 
                                                                  
This president is for we
There is hope on the horizon

It is still gray
Snow is lightly falling
 
Stanski
February 7, 2020 ^
 

 
The dog is my friend
Takes me anywhere
Any direction
Doesn’t care
 
Once to Toronto
Had a lot of fun
Down to Baton Rouge
Loved that southern sun
 
The hound gets me there
Never really a crisis
Fair price on the ticket
Treats me first class
 
Dog takes care of me
Where ever I go
Drivers with good records
Put on quite a show
 
They’ve won my trust
Only line I’ll choose
Riding with greyhound
There’s nothing to lose
 
Go dog, go
 
Stanski
February 6, 2020 ^