Steve Haarman

The city is burning
A sentry interrupts a party
to tell the General

Musicians keep playing
The soldier is thrown
into a dungeon

It is cool an dry,
guarded by a man
with one leg, who
sits on a stool

Both wait as
the General’s ego
expands into invincibility

But he is wrong
and will perish
with his vultures

The prisoner is
released by the guard
and the two walk down
a narrow corridor on

three legs finding
their way to safety and rest
They now dream of
sacred new beginnings

Where the erudite and
generals will serve in
a new manner

This is the way it was designed
The musicians will play on key
Life will be good
You’ll see

Stanski
December 23, 2019 ^

I don’t know
what a dream is about
Something mundane and peaceful or
startling, causing a shout
Many possibilities
Like black cats flying
or dogs on unicycles
Maybe Van Gogh women sighing

Stay awake
Try to think
Keep moving forward
Dare not blink
Isn’t action better
than sleepy dreams
Why do deer freeze
in auto-light beams

Their lack of action
can bring sure death
Our lack of action
could cause wrath
People will wait
Give you a chance
Dreams or reality
You choose
It is your dance

Stanski
December 22, 2019 ^

WAKE UP
NEVER TOO LATE
FIND THE JOY
PARTICIPATE

LIFE’S IMPORTANT
NOT ABOUT YOU
BUT RATHER ABOUT
WHAT YOU DO

DREAMS ARE SAFE
NOT ALL BAD
A WASTED LIFE
NOW THAT IS SAD

SO TAKE THE STEPS
ONE BY ONE
GOALS ARE REACHED
YOU HAVE WON

BY STEVE HAARMAN
December 22, 2019

I visit old friends who are right up there in age
And newer, younger people who can carry on
A conversation about the world in general, how
things are going and the condition of us as a
people. One thing in common is the disgust
they have for professional athletes who have
a disregard for the Flag of our Country. They
speak of friends they have lost in war and
cannot believe that these millionaires stoop
so low in showing their disrespect.

I stopped watching sports is a common statement
Who wants to watch all the carrying on and the
fancy dances after they score. Some of the better
coaches have said to act as if you have been their
before. In basketball the clowning and antics
take away from what once was a great sport to watch

The young and old are tired of the way morality has
been broken down in movies, television, books and
advertising. Affirmation is given to bad behavior
Politicians are guilty, judges are guilty as are
Teachers and clerics. Political correctness is said
to be a farce. Drug abuse and a disregard for
decency add to their frustration

I wish we could all adopt respect for each other
Learn to be tolerant and abide by the Golden Ruld

Stanski
December 21, 2019 ^

The thoughts we have as we travel
from one place to another
each of which we can call home
and are comfortable while moving along

No apprehension, anxiety or nervousness
as we look, when we can, at
the beauty nature has given us

Sunshine flows into the woods and
the interior is plainly visible
Wonder is the only word

We as the present humans
have a high regard for ourselves
We wish to claim responsibility for
the spectacular

In reality we are nothing and
have been here for just a speck of time

I think of the pictured rocks in Munising, Michigan
They are somewhere, according to the experts,
between three and five hundred million years old

Hard to get your arms around this kind of time

The birth of the Savior was a little over
two thousand years ago and
we are aware of much of the history since then

If we lean toward being proud
there are some accomplishments
that are remarkable and noteworthy
such as the printing press, the cotton gin,
airplane, moon landing and much more,
but on the other side of the coin
there is much to be ashamed of including
slavery, genocide, needless wars and the taking of human life

I think of all of this as the car I am driving travels safely
down beautiful highways at a remarkable speed
We are important in what we do, but there is much to work on
As little specks we better begin

Stanski
December 20, 2019^

Today
Wake up early
thinking of you
Start the Sunday
moving slowly
The way you used to do
Watered plants
try to bring order
Then I think
what does it really matter?

It does mean something
Life does go on
You are not a physical part
anymore
but I’ll always have you
On my mind

Life was full
You made it that way
That was just you
What more can I say

I’ll move on
forever mindful
Life is precious
A real miracle

Stanski
December 20, 2019 ^

Today is your birthday
An ominous day
No sunshine at all

And you were all sunshine
Even on cloudy days
Until the last day

We were laden with dark clouds
But you had seen the light
Only a few days before

You told your sister
The colors were gold, purple, and magenta
Just like you to have this vision

Us unmemorable humans
Can only imagine white light
You saw what was true

But then you were special
Had insight which illuminated
Caused others to stagger

You were the one
The leftover I found
You held on to me

We had our life
Mostly our togetherness was rosy
Lots of sunshine and understanding

I still sense you about
Even after nine years
Your idiosyncrasies were treasures

I will wind the music box
Listen to “Happy Birthday to You”
Then go and cry

Stanski
December 19, 2019 ^

Different slants on the same truth
May cause confusion

Repetition alters no ideal
Perfection is to strive for through practice

We open up to new inspiration
Never knowing where to look or
when to expect the arrival

What we know is significant
Only in the sense of understanding
that growth is waiting

Drifting takes place while we linger
What we want is not being delivered

We look at the monument which is our self
It has been built with heavy stones

Tear this down and then rebuild
No easy task

Good growth requires hard work
No one can do it for us

Keep rebuilding until the monument of you
Is ready for enlightenment

Suddenly your gifts arrive
They were there before
But you were not ready

Now you are
Uphold this truth and your ideals

Stanski
December 19, 2019 ^

Where is the solid place that is safe for you?
Isn’t it true we look for that place to hide, or
meditate on the things we should and want to do?

We can be overwhelmed in this day of commercialism
No on blames anyone who strays from their intentions
Being human is a gift, but also a serious challenge

The Grim Reaper waits for the right moments
He knows our weaknesses and when we are vulnerable
Knowing this we try to stay on the righteous path

So easy to drift, to dream, and lose our connection with reality
Still our resolve brings us back to the rock which is our foundation
The strong and true, though apt to falter, find refuge there

No need to rehash failures, misfortunes or un-kept promises
We can renew ourselves in this place of safe-keeping
In this season we are thankful for the gift of introspection

We see the loose, the pleasure seekers, and the shameless
But we do not hold judgement over them as it is not ours to do
We are happy for our blessings and wish the best for them

We walk in our own shoes and know the difficulty at times
Therefore hold no ridicule for those who may be quietly suffering
The harvest will be taken and we will be asked what we did

What we did for those who seem to lag behind and
Have no apparent purpose in their life. Did we go to the fringes?
Did we try to influence and help them? We will be questioned

It gives us many things to think about during this time of joy
We should remove self-centeredness from our daily routine
Make room for prayer and consideration for others

Stanski
December 19, 2019 ^

He used to write
Now pretends
Genius fades
Cover-up begins
Slow transition
Formula known
Fill in the blanks
Another winner
Guggenheim man
Who’s to question?
Arts and letters
Don’t even think

A national treasurer
Like Thoreau
Grounded
Centered
Sense of place
Loves the earth
Fluid
Seamless
Perception
Deception
Part animal
Corruption
Magnificent
Cheers

Stanski
December 18, 2019 ^