The funeral party was small
Only a few who scattered
In different directions
After the cemetery service
This was usual in the Dakotas
Rural areas with few farmers left
They were broken people
Afraid to leave for now
So they stayed with hopes
For next the year
And prayers for a mild winter
Spring came and plowing began
Fragrance from the earth was good
Spirits were high, but things went wrong
Drought put an end to wishes
A funeral atmosphere without a body
These were the planes; arid soil
And desolation; isolation
No more springs for this broken family
Another house on the prairie doomed
Time went on; newcomers arrived
New times; machines; irrigation
There would be success along with failure
Life would unfold for better or worse
Stanski
November 22, 2019 ^
KNOWING
What you should do and what you do
May not even make a difference
What you mean and
Where your heart is
Is what really counts
Do you live by others expectations?
Are you driven to conform to a structure?
Structure can inhibit your creative spirit
Taking away your ability to salute or
Respect in your own original way.
Throw out these shackles and
Be true to yourself and your God
Nothing matters more than your being and
Your honest expression
When you have this
You have everything you need
For your complete contentment
Creative processes will flow like spring waters
To drift away from this idealism is to reject
The true spirit of your life and living
Structure means nothing
When compared to integrity
Using talents at the highest levels of ability
Adds luster to your body of work
This will manifest your gratitude
For all your gifts
Including the gift of life
Do what you do
Be gracious
Take your bow
Stanski
December 2, 2019 ^
PONDERING
I like to weed and need to, too,
but now is not the season;
I like to read and read good books
and for this I have a reason.
Just water these plants;
Mop up the floors;
do you think it’s time?
The bigger thoughts,
the big ideas,
They may have to wait.
Right now is the moment
for thinking it through
It’s the time to write down a plan.
I’m going to work on this for quite a while;
So I can find out who I really am.
I hope I can! I hope I can!
Right now I feel like an air borne bird,
Not knowing where to land.
I’m not looking for an easy path,
But for the road to home
I’ll be alright when I get there
And will no longer have to roam.
The feeling is there; I have it now:
The music, the sun and the moon;
And the sweet moan of ecstasy.
Stanski
December2, 2019 ^
UNPLUG
You have heard the call
The troubling call to make the choice
Unplug or carry on
The brain is dead
You feel that way, too
But, yet, it’s up to you
Shoes are on your feet
Life is not so neat
You make the call, “unplug”
The final call, “unplug”
We, so smug, can tell you
You were right or wrong
While not looking at ourselves
As we make similar calls
To a lesser degree of course
But impactful and final
At least for today
We say no to opportunity
Sorry, I can’t help
Now is not the time.
Sorry!
It will have to wait
We don’t have the time
We don’t have the money
It’s not convenient
No eye contact made
The minor unplugging
The taking away
The breaking down
Denial!
Death by a thousand cuts
Oh, yes!
We all know this guilt
Pull the plug
Stanski
December 2, 2019 ^
SIGNS AND CLUES
Every clue is not a lead,
but it slows us down enough
to take a pause and look
at what we have.
Too often we amble forward,
not even looking, and later
wonder how did we get
this far and when.
We look back to when
there was a future, but
were too busy to
give it much thought,
and then arrive at where
we are and wonder, again,
how did we get to here.
We have regrets and recapitulations
as well as self examination and
new resolves, assuming
there had been resolve once before.
We are wondering about
what could have been,
but soon get back to what is
and try to make peace with ourselves
between our ambitions and our limitations.
This is not bad and not necessarily good.
It is a start and fresh starts
always have promise.
We can hang our hat on that and
begin to move forward with
new goals and new ambitions.
Where we want to go may be
a long way off and detours
are to be expected. Purpose,
though, trumps most obstacles
and watching for trail markers
and other clues can be a good thing.
There are no guarantees but
desire for success may be
a strong motivator. Highs
can be obtained from accomplishment.
Tomorrow is a new beginning
and new opportunity.
New highs are a potential.
Live in the present with
an eye on the future, while
knowing at the end of the day
that tomorrow is waiting
and with it new clues and new markers.
Light the candles and
listen to the music.
Stanski
December 1, 2019 ^
YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE
Many people do things
To them it is the greatest
Others view – not so much
What do you do?
You are the one
There is no other
Your notions are right for you
Others be damned
No one can live for you
Or walk in your shoes
Only you knows yourself
Your beliefs and motives
Instincts and intuition prevail
Drive you to failure or victory
Never give up; flee from self-doubt
There is no wrong for you
No need to prove for others
Believe in yourself
Compliment others
Self-reliance is a noble quality
We all have today
You live it well and
When tomorrow arrives
Do it all over again
Stanski
December 1, 2019 ^
EVENTS FROM THE PAST
Grand Rapids Chicks in town to
Play the Fort Wayne Daisies
I was in Fort Wayne visiting
My Grandma and Grandpa
On Wabash Avenue
I would walk to the game
Three blocks to the park
Took the short cut along
The railroad tracks, which
Smelled richly of creosote
The game was great
Just being there was a delight
The league broke up years ago
Many still remember the lady ballplayers
Went horseback riding at the Burton Stable
My horse “Buster” was easy to handle
Until he decided it was feeding time
He got into a gallop all the way back
No matter what I did was to no avail
He was determined and won out
The area is all residential now, so
All I have is the memories
In Chicago, the Herald Carriers, who
Sold enough subscriptions to qualify
Watched the Cubs play at Wrigley Field
Then went to Six Flags Park for a few hours
I enjoyed the parachute drop, but
Was glad to get back on solid ground
Good memories from days gone by
Stanski
December 1, 2019 ^
NIGHT TALK
It’s three in the morning
No one up but me
I’m not alone though
At least not in my mind
Peaceful and content
I think about the day past
And the one almost at hand
Savoring all the goodness I find
While looking forward to more
Don’t overlook the struggles
That’s part of life, too
No music is playing
Quiet is all right for now
The clock speaking tick tock
Admonishes me
Get to bed; get your rest
When you’re refreshed, you’re at your best
All so true, but then
I would miss this opportunity
For quiet and thought
Plants grow and live alone
They do all right and seem content
I talk to them and learn, too
No one knows what’s best for you
Or cares, really, what you do
We all have a program
If you’re willing to pay
You can have your name on it
Coffee will still cost
Two dollars a cup
Refills free
Stanski
December1, 2019 ^
NEW LIGHT
EARLY MORNING WINTER LIGHT,
REFLECTING AND REFRACTING
OFF OF WINDOWS, OPENED FOR
FRESH AIR AND COOL BREEZE,
CAST NEW HIGHLIGHTS AND
SHADOWS ON FAMILIAR OBJECTS
GIVING ONE NEW PERSPECTIVES
ON GATHERED TREASURERS.
IT MAKES YOU THINK ABOUT
YOUR OLD ROUTINES AND WONDER
IF NEW LIGHT ON THEM OR
OBJECTIVE REVIEW OF THEM
WOULD BE GOOD AND A NECESSARY TONIC.
WE NORMALLY HAVE A
DISCIPLINE OF LIVING
WHICH BEGINS WITH PURPOSE.
GRADUALLY THE REPETITIONS AND
PASSAGE OF TIME MAKE OUR ACTIONS
SEEM MUNDANE AND ROBOTIC.
IF WE WERE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS
OF OUR BEING TO LET IN
THE FRESHNESS OF NEW IDEAS
AND THE LIGHT OF BETTER REASON,
WE COULD, PERHAPS, CLOSE THE DOOR
TO MONOTONY AND LISTLESSNESS.
AFTER WE TREAT OURSELVES THIS WAY
AND PROSPER FROM THE RESULTS OF OUR EFFORT,
WOULD IT NOT BE WISE TO APPLY
A CRITICAL EYE AND OBJECTIVE
ANALYTICAL EAR TO ALL THE THINGS
WE SEE AND HEAR?
COULD WE MAKE CONCLUSIONS AND
FORM OUR OWN OPINION BASED ON
INTELLECTUAL HONESTY AND TRUTH,
RATHER THAN REMAINING PART OF
THE HERD WHOSE ONLY WAY TO MAKE
A NEW TRAIL IS TO WANDER FROM
HERE TO THERE?
SEEING AND HEARING THE SAME THINGS
OVER AND OVER DOES NOT NECESSARILY
MEAN THEY ARE CORRECT. THE TRUTH
HAS TO BE SOUGHT OUT.
THIS REQUIRES CONSTANT AND
CONSISTENT OBSERVATION MADE
USING NEW ANGLES OF LIGHT
AND LISTENING WHEN THE NEWS
IS CARRIED ON THE FRESH EARLY AIR.
THE WANDERING HERD DOES NOT
MAKE THE BEST PATH.
THE FALSE GODS ARE NOT THE SOURCE
TO GO TO FOR OUR KNOWLEDGE AND OPINIONS.
SEARCH OUT THE BEST PATH,
THE RIGHT PATH, AND THEN BE
TRUE TO YOUR CONVICTIONS.
AVOID THE UNNECESSARY DETOURS,
SEEK ENLIGHTENMENT AND STAY REFRESHED.
LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT SEASON.
STANSKI
DECEMBER 1, 2019
MAIL TIME
The little lady hobbled
Out to the mail box
The rural carrier was
Just up the road
He had stopped and
Her step was
A little livelier
Than usual
She got there and
Pulled the lid up,
Lowered the red flag
Her box was half-full
She scurried back
To the house and
Began sorting
The stack:
Advertising
Letters requesting money
Some bills and to her thrill
A few letters
These were unexpected
But meant so much to her
She savored them
Read them
Then re-read them
Then set them aside
The day seemed brighter
She discarded most of the rest
Went to the kitchen
To prepare lunch
Cyrus, her husband
Would be home soon
Stanski
November 22, 2019 ^
Steve Haarman 