Steve Haarman

I want to write without hurting feelings.
I have friends who take the position of the leftists.
I have asked them several questions and their answers
lead me to think that they believe mostly the same as I do,
but still take the stunning position of desecrating the President,
some calling him the worst ever.

I ask if they know what he has accomplished and
nothing is the answer I usually receive.
I ask what he is guilty of and receive a few stumbling accusations.
I ask about the Senate probe and the Mueller probe
and point out how nothing was found.
They can only shrug.

They say the President is sexist, xenophobic, racist, genocidal,
homophobic, and imperialistic, obsessed with money,
morally inferior to those in West Europe, desires power,
does not care for the planet or animals, and is materialistic.

I am dumbfounded as I listen to these thoughts and expressions.
They have taken the attributes of the left and applied them to the President.
They do not appear to be trying to be clever, but are sincere in their beliefs.

I cannot ask where they are getting their information for it is obvious that it is coming from the main stream media.
I do not ask if they engage in critical thinking.
I do not argue. I respect them and hope
they know what socialism is and what road
their leaders are taking them down

I will remain a deplorable

Stanski
January 16, 2020 ^

They have been around
Know it all
Or say they do

Have their sycophants
Teetering on every word
What to do next

O faithful scribes
Tell us now
Keep us from a fateful move

Write for us the recipe
Keep us from the horrors
You preach about

Tell us which beer to drink
Ask the barmaid
She’ll remember

The one you liked so well
Last Tuesday
She, too is impressed

Knows you well
For what you are
Keeps quiet

Deserves your generous tips
You are overwhelming
All problems have vanished

As quickly as you point them out
You are charming
Enjoy your crowd

Even angels are listening
Waiting patiently
To take your souls

When the Master
Has decided that
He has had enough

He will place you
Where you deserve
Will not forget

Your favorite drinks
Enjoy
O wise ones

Stanksi
January 16, 2020 ^

They are flying
Then sputtering
In all directions
High and low
Destiny unknown
Like the Jetsons
Somewhat hysterical
Everything will fall in place
Suffer through whatever disgrace

In a hurry
Rush it through
Then let it wait
There is more to do
Backwards
Forwards
Obstacles
Lies and miscalculations
Very entertaining

Laughable
If it weren’t true
Who knows coal?
Who knows oil?
Humpty Dumpty
Or Old King Cole?
Jet planes here
Jet planes there
Pots in the air

Climate changes
Yes! Every day
Wish I could control
So much gossip
Too many lies
What else is there?
World turned upside down
Old drooling fools
Confusing administrations

In the end truth will emerge
Arrive in a concrete auto-air-ship
Gnashing of teeth; cries for mercy; no one hears

Stanski
January 15, 2020 ^

Why is it so easy to forget
Things we wished to keep in mind?
We were keeping track and then
Our minds went on furlough and
What was once significant became
Less meaningful then a stone
Skipped across a pond
Only to sink out of sight
What is important and is there
A benediction for us when
The original worth is discovered
And we act on it in a fruitful way
As though we were on
Top of it all along

What comes first in life, stupidity
Or our ability to detect it and
Is wisdom a gift we must wait
Years and months to unwrap
Life becomes contentious and
We have to deal with obstacles
Which we have no control over
And the keeper of the keys is absent
How long must we keep nodding yes
When we should be demanding no
When should we stand up and
Address the flaws in the system
Or forget everything until what
Was is no longer standing

Stanski
January 14, 2020

We have seen the glory of the eagle
When it flies in the sky of lovely blue
This vision transforms our thinking
about all of life’s possibilities
We have heard the promise of a better tomorrow
If only we are willing to sacrifice today

The eagle is uninhibited
We see its grace and conditions
Free access to lofty heights
From where its opportunities
Will be clearly laid out

Then the decision
Act or do not
Depending on instinct and need
Just another day in its world of survival

We think about our glory
And wonder if anyone witnessed it
Can it be defined like
the soaring of this bird?

The sun breaks through the cloudy sky
Puts light on the pines and the hills
Which are covered with light snow
and leaves from last year
We feel better even as
we watch the swirling flurries
Trying to make an impression on the landscape

The sun fades and clouds darken
Blowing winds keep waves pounding
These are conditions
Our work goes on in spite of them
Our purpose should be clear
Obstacles are not perceived
The fulfillment is more important
than the cost of the effort

We can soar
Our wings lift us to
new heights and better days
We find glory; are filled and thankful
We are ourselves
We are eagle like
The feeling is good

Stanski
January 13, 2020 ^

It is late now, well past the bewitching hour
The clock is gently talking but no one is listening
At this time everyone has their own agenda
A train can be heard in the distance
The sound is easy to handle
Memories of you come into mind
Country music and lost love
All mix well into this hour

Alone without cause partly
because of the time of year
Longing for those busier times
Yet knowing that this is today
and this is what we have
Self-critiquing might be in order

Goal setting and things to do now and later
Work sitting there untouched calls for action
Books unread waiting to be touched
People we know who need to be hugged
Timeless causes should be attended to
Slowly we know our disposition will have to be renewed

Make a difference just in your being
That is what living is all about
Let the sign of peace radiate from your face
Tensions evaporate as you meditate and think
about the meaning of your own existence

The filling up and the emptying are all part of one big dream
What is your purpose and what purpose can be worked
through you as you open up, knowing this can be true

Acceptance has nuzzled its way into you
and presence is an everyday attitude
Fears subside and lamentations disappear for now
as growth takes over

This will be quite a new year

Stanski
January

Victim-hood
Being told
It is not your fault
You tried
Did your best
You’ll do better next time
All so soothing
To the waiting ear

Not real life
Ask Teddy Roosevelt
Must get into the arena
Get your hands dirty
Fail and then get up
Only to fail again and
Then get up once more
Until success evolves

The critics will be there
Pointing out failure
Monday morning quarterbacking
Speaking loudly
To the believers
Who cannot think and
Depend on them for
Their course of action

I like the outsiders
Those who stir up the pot
Change the way things are done
Bring about positive results
Is blamed for hurt feelings
Accused of being unfair
Proceeds with abandon
Leading us to greatness again

Stanski
January 13, 2020 ^

Life goes on; life goes on
Sometime I want to run away
Events running smoothly
Start to diminish
Right before my eyes
I hold my focus, but
Cannot sway others to the truth

A broken body; a broken heart
Answers so clear are ignored
Suggestions put aside for now
Lamentations about what is wanted
Repeated monthly with no action
The thing to do is evident, but
Continued to be ignored

Action is not taken, which
Would clear the air
Reasoning so absurd
It wants to make me cry
Hoarders are hoarders
Will not listen to solutions
Delay, put off; then excuses

It is not a vengeance tar-dive
But where did the thinking go
A cart in front of an old horse
A requiem just around the corner
Sacred oaths do not matter
To those seemingly in control

They utter their vitriol
Then go into perpetual downtime
Or a flight with only one wing
Landing back where clutter is the king
The fog will not clear
However long the wait

I hate to say goodbye, but I will
I shot the moon, achieved my goal
Then told it was all in vain
Watch people express sadness
Walk out empty handed
Praying that it doesn’t rain

Stanski
January 13, 2020 ^

Now they’re gone
What does it matter?
They had their say
You heard their chatter

Their influence like vapor
Evaporation of the power
Coolly leaving behind
Just a few with sorrow

Who were the affected?
How deep the furrow?
Myth becomes truth
Legend imitates a tower

Soon the meaning is gone
If it ever was there
The memory is lost
Who would really care?

The block of life that counts
Is not the cornerstone
But the love in every brick
And how it was shown

Affected every soul it touched
In a quiet sort of way
Not worrying about tomorrow
Living for today

How it manifested thanks
For the precious gift of being
Gave back a hundred-fold
Before the final leaving

Stanski
January 13, 2020 ^

There are those so convinced
That liberalism or socialism is
The very best thing that could
Happen in this country

They basically want
Without deep consideration
For everyone to live in
A state of equal misery nation

Where do they come from?
These ideas that seem so grand
Is it the breakdown in morality?
Or the need to lead a band

They slap down our President
Because of words he has said
Name one predecessor who
Has had a perfect resume, so sad

He loves this country and
Did not have to serve, and wealth
did not stand in his way. He stood up
And proclaimed we could be more stealth

He was one of twenty, but survived
Ran against corruption and
The American people took his side
Much to the dismay of the chosen

Impeachment was the goal, before
He took his oath. He had an agenda
And proceeded to accomplish more
Than anyone thought he could

He had insiders against him, people
From both sides of the aisle
The fake news press could not acknowledge
Anything he did that was good

Soldiers are happier, our forces stronger
Taxes lowered, regulations reversed
A wonder among the men of his day
And still he is daily cursed

Stanski
January 12, 2020 ^