Steve Haarman

Stop by the farm stand to order
There is an intercom
The driveway is long
Use the intercom
Your order will be ready
Two heads cabbage
A bunch of carrots
Some radishes
Four corn
A carton of new potatoes
Two packs of weed
 
Any eggs?
Not today
I’m going to lay my own
After the weed
Better make that four weeds
Now you’re talking
Weekdays are great
No commitments
Just show up
Everybody loves you
It’s a wonderful world
 
Drive up to the house
Order is ready
Payment is made
Can I give you something?
What?
Magazines
How many?
A box full
Why me
You’re the closest drop off
How considerate
 
Drive home
I meant to get eggs
Well next time
How soon
Tomorrow
I’ll need more weed, too
 
Stanski
January 28, 2020 ^

I wake up; hear the wind
Look up; see vast number of stars
Think of time and how condition changes
About ancient civilizations
All living in wonder
Thinking they are the ones
Only to fade and be lost
As conquering armies
Destroy them and their traditions
We have documented this manifestation
It is not lighthearted reading
But it is history
 
What had come before and
Was then destroyed or lost?
How many times was the same thing invented?
How many geniuses were never employed?
Millions of questions until we get to today
Where our world is full of novelties
Application of bizarre non-understood devises
A world of abuse, abortion, genocide, war, hunger and disease
Moon flights and space exploration are commonplace
I hear the peal of a distant train
Ancient, but still of great use, reminding me of
Computerized farm tractors advanced beyond comprehension
 
Church bells ringing; new days waiting
Schools welcoming students in the act of
Developing new bones in their neck area for support
And arthritis in their fingers and wrists
From damage caused by little machines
Language arts and understanding being lost
Music enjoyed, but learned by only a few
Critical thinking and thought development abandoned
Repetition of what is not understood, like parrots
Was there ever a simple life; free from hang-ups and strife
Where ego was not the big thing; everyone invited in
Where being wrong was an opportunity to learn
 
There is hope that we will all open up
Know the One, Who is really in charge
Follow Him as He advised
Avoiding  our eternal demise

Stanski
January 28, 2020^
 

I have faith in what I write
The lake’s waves are my time measures
I line myself up in accordance
They are steady
Every day, every day
They have purpose
I think of the water
I drink the water
I think of all that might be
Love in the water
Miracles in the water
Gifts of grace in the water
It fills me up
My cup overflows
 
I take the seasons
I write to the seasons
Seeing beauty in each day
In each hour of the day
Beauty is there
It is a gift
We must sometimes look for it
As the sun goes down on a cloudy day
There is a little light in the west
Below the dark clouds
This is the only light
So wonderful to see
It lifts my spirits
 
I love the world
The presentations of each season
When right I will walk the forest
See the flowers and condition
The forest will know me
Know my sense of love for life
I have no fear of death
But I love life
After this world is over for me
The world will know I loved for it
It was a gift of my birth
I have emptied myself
Now I am filled
 
Stanski
January 27, 2020 ^
 

Where’s mama?
She won’t come
Why not?
Stubborn
Feels mistreated
Insignificant
Like she’s starving
 
How do you like Paris?
Best city in the world
This restaurant food?
It’s great
Why are you feeding it to the dog?
 
Let’s have a séance
No need
We had a life
Wasn’t perfect
Is anything
I have a right
How can you afford it?
 
Get the dog out of here
More wine?
You father’s fine
No he isn’t
I don’t understand you
You are a married man
Have grandsons
 
I have to leave
Go ahead
What about papa
You made a commitment
Have to go back to him
I guess
That’s right mama
Let’s all go home
 
Stanski
January 27, 2020 ^

New scene

Some say women aren’t funny
Who, the pope?
You were here
Was she funny?
Is the pope Catholic?
She’s the best
Where’s Suzie
Suzie’s kidnapped
This traffic is impossible
Where we going
You ought to know
F==k you Ed Sullivan
See, she is funny
 
Now we’re on a subway
Smart girl
Where does it go?
To the end of the line
I know that place
The end of the line?
I’m from there
Me, too
We’ll get along fine
You are funny
Don’t make me say it
 
Stanski
January 27, 2020

Look at that umbrella
Focus
What’s this?
Another language
Do you understand?
Just barely
 
Mama has an apartment
Would you like coffee?
There’s only one chair
I lived here when I was in school
Look at the dog
Papa be sweet
F==k sweet
We’re going back to New York
See you tonight
I miss you
I miss you, too
 
What is it?
Who knows?
Women are women
No explaining
Don’t you love it?
Not really
 
Another guy—
I left
The place was like a mausoleum
But now you are staying there?
I have no choice
I’m struggling
Wait.  I’ve got a call
What is it mom
I’m out of cheese
So what
I need it now
Sorry, I can’t help you
 
Stanski
January 27, 2020 ^

 
Here we are
Bills to pay
What’s for dinner?
Whatever you want
Operator, please!
 
Who’s your girlfriend?
Suzie
No, not really
What about your star
Let me get my book
Somebody wants a kick in the n==s
 
Are you serious?
Yea!
How can you have a show now?
I just do
Where?
Philadelphia
Two and a half hours away
Well good luck
Papa
 
We need you
Why?
Where’s your mama
Paris
She should be back
In time for the party?
What did she say?
I’m going to Paris
But, I’ll be back
I hope so
 
Papa you don’t listen
I may go overboard
You always do
Let’s not fight
What are you doing?
Looking for the one who signs the checks
American loyalty
 
Stanski
January 27, 2020 ^
 
 

I woke up thankful
Did my lavabos
Went to the kitchen
Find a waiting daughter
Ask, how are you doing
Medium was the answer
Like you are here but don’t know why
Yes, she answered
I think that’s better than being here
And knowing why
 
The unknown may be exciting
Anticipation increases adrenaline
Finding our truth is rewarding
Living our truth is outstanding
 
We have everything, but nothing
Have food, but are hungry
Health, but we are ill
We search for what is missing
Do not know where to look
Begin to blame, taking no responsibility
 
We become frustrated when we find ourselves
In an unfamiliar forest, having no clue
Whether danger lurks or if we are safe
We pledge to turn our lives around as
Soon as we can find our way
 
We know we are nothing, in spite of
Being something to others
Our true self is becoming apparent
We will be followers and not just fans
Will drop our excuses and seek
Yes, seek out the authentic fisherman
 
Following in His footsteps we find peace
Opportunity glares at us from all directions
We are willing and do proceed
Knowing now why we are here
Sunday mornings are so good
 
Stanski
January 26, 2020 ^

Oh, to write a poem or musing
That is universal in its appeal
Not an easy thing to do
There is no one, like
The one who won the war
Because there is no one who
Could, being solo, accomplish this
 
I have talked to girls from Denver
Also known as the Denver Girls and
They say without reservation that
The only situation where one is a winner is
A single bird in a cage, well fed and watered
And a real being does not prefer a cage
It’s not the only game in town
 
I could write about events in Berlin or
Anywhere for that matter and make
Them interesting to read even if
In their own right they are boring
I had the real deal once, but
The real deal died and I was left alone
Broken hearts are not fun
 
There is always more to the story, but
You find a new category and I call it
Broken hearts and things we’ll never know
I found a new love and things went well
The excitement of newness prevailed until
The time came for scripted love and this
Did not go well with me because I desire spontaneity
 
I suggested most kindly to my lovely lady
Just be the woman you are.  You are intelligent,
Accomplished and have nothing to prove
She needed recognition and continued to overdo
Her fragile body could not handle this excess
Which led to sickness and another broken heart
A sacred vow broken and what happened in Vegas left
 
Stanski
January 25, 2020 ^
 
 
 

Life at any age has its moments
when fear comes into play. 
If children are scared about something
the mom or dad says:  Do not be afraid. 
Then the child feels better 
knowing that the parents 
will be there safeguarding him. 
 
In school at test time 
we try to prepare
but many times have 
an ache of fear
that makes us nervous.  
Do not be afraid,
you have nothing to fear.
Words are easy to say 
but it is not a sure
thing that fear will go away. 
 
A President told the nation 
that the only thing 
we had to fear was fear itself. 
We entered the world war and
there was fear and sorrow. 
Many decisions were made that have
altered the course of the world. 
 
We constantly have 
the fear of war and 
criminality within us. 
We have hope that 
those in charge will be just,
but know there are 
evil politicians and dictators  
who have no regard for 
the sanctity of life. 
We would like to tell 
those under the dictator's rule 
to be not afraid,
but know how hollow 
that would sound and be. 
 
We are happy with some 
decisions made on our behalf
and then filled with fear 
as we face the unintended 
consequences of the new order. 
Do not be afraid. 
Get back inside yourselves 
and look at what is there
in front of you 
that you can control. 
 
Be diligent and 
do not cause others
to be fearful because of you. 

Live life from a state of peace 
that you create by 
being true to your code. 
Then you are ready 
for the best of times
or the worst of times. 

Do not be afraid.
 
Stanski
January 25, 2020 ^