Steve Haarman

Some people shy away from poetry
They like mine and will say so
Will ask if I am going to publish
I just give them a look and say
there is a lot of poetry out there

Some of it is terrible, they will say,
when I read what they are talking about
I have to agree with them

The poems start out with some
mythological character or ancient being,
then digress into a hodgepodge collection of lines
which are abstract in themselves and unrelated to
what was said before or after

Wasn’t it Lincoln who said you can fool
some of the people part of the time, etc.
I think these poets are writing for the
Guggenheim judges who will probably issue them
an award because they don’t get it either

I think most people are looking for something
they can identify with, something with substance that
they can chew on and think about
They tell me mine are like that

I haven’t won any awards, but at least I am appreciated
That makes a difference and is one of the reasons I write

I talked with an artist who stopped doing creative pieces and
switched to the abstract, meaningless pieces using
the accents of someone’s living room and
matching the colors in their couch
The people love them and pay me well, he said

What about your soul, I asked. I know what you’re saying, he answered, but I can’t feed my family on good work that doesn’t sell
He is sustained by deceiving himself and endures his self-betrayal

I kept my day job

Stanski
December 18, 2019^

.
 It is complicated
 That is what he said
 When he read my poem
  
 So was “War and Peace”, I said
 My work is just a fictional muse
 Embedded with humor
  
 Take a deep breathe
 Start all over and 
 Enjoy the laughs as well
 As the strategy of the set up
  
 I use very little punctuation
 Gives the reader a challenge
  
 Why should I do all the work?
 You usually do, is the correct answer
  
 Don’t forget, my friend,
 I go for quality and quantity
 It is not easy to do both
  
 Some poets spend a year
 Or more on one poem
 Crafting and changing 
 Until they are satisfied 
  
 I have read some of
     the finished products 
 Although they are 
    fine pieces of work
 They do not move me
  
 This is because some of the nuances
 Are peculiar only to the poet
 And the relativity is lost on me
  
 They receive the Guggenheim awards
 So what can I say?
  
 Someone will find my stuff
 Long after I’m gone and 
 Wonder who that guy was 
  
 His musings were so impactful
 And still have relevance 
 That is my dream
  
  
  
  
  
  
 I will keep up as long as I can
 Then there will be an end
  
 By the way, I said to my friend
 Did you notice that I am using
 A new penname?
  
 Stanski
  
 I like it
  
 Something like Frankie, 
 Ella or Elvis
  
 Just the first name 
 Everyone knows
  
 You have it right
 I love recognition
  
 Stanski
 April 26, 2017 ^ 

.
 Sometimes you can’t see 
 Your hand in front of you
 Which should be slapping
 Your face to wake you up
  
 We laugh at advertisements
 That give affirmation
 To behavior that is bad
 They are so cute
  
 We see hypocrisy and 
 Get in line to support it
 Because it affects one who
 Thinks differently than you
  
 We see billion dollar influence
 Causing the firing of a judge
 Of a case involving a son
 Then blown off as an oddity
  
 A president attacked for over two years
 Exonerated – no collusion
 Opposition’s continual lies
 Ignore his amazing accomplishments
  
 Employment up in all sectors
 Inclusive of women and all minorities 
 Wages increase; taxes decrease
 Soldiers given respect they deserve
  
 Regulations removed
 Economy has flourished
 Border security finally confronted
 Even though met with opposition
  
 Billions spent for those 
 Who have illegally entered
 President denied 6 billion
 To finish fencing and defending
  
 We need a slap on the face
 We must wake up to reality
 We must clean up the swamp
 They are all, both sides, our enemy
  
 Stanski, August 27, 2019 ^ 

.The little succulent plant
 We brought from Idaho
 Has become a beautiful man-eater
 We bought it at 18 inches
 Now it is eight feet tall and three feet across 
 The branches are green and spider-like
 Little flowers and very sturdy
 It fills a corner of the room
 Has had several off spring
 Cuttings, rooted and established
 Given away as gifts
 Eyes light up acknowledging uniqueness
 Always given a special place of honor
  
 We could have said no in Idaho
 But we didn’t; we went for it
 Stabilized it in the car and 
 It survived the last week of travel
 I look back and realize
 Our trip was a great one
 Good weather; outdoor dinners
 A happiness we wanted to bottle
 But life is not that way
 Nor should it be
 Each day is an opportunity
 Even plants have a say
 The spidery, green giants they are
  
 Stanski
 August 27, 2019 ^ 

. I think of lovely people I saw today 
 The ones I was with 
 Rehearsing, singing and listening 
 Some prepared food
 Delicious baked goods
 And breakfast casseroles
 Good nature and conversation
 Missing some special people
 That have passed on
 Or couldn’t attend for health reasons
  
 Sad about those leaving for the season
 There were watering eyes
 Stories that could only be half told
 Because the choking up process
 Would not allow
  
 This is life, though
 We progress and then regress
 Realize our own mortality
 Forgiving those craving earthly recognition
 Praying for intervention by the One
  
 Sun was shining; dignity prevailed
 No complaints from those suffering
 Sky was blue; the singing lifted spirits
 And the food caused us all to
 Violate our healthy eating habits
  
 Oh well!  We will be sensible tomorrow
 We are almost in control and
 Isn’t that the way it should be?
  
 Stanski
 August 25, 2019 ^
   

 Those so certain
 On top of it all
 Never tasted the sweat
 Of their fore-bearers
 Those who paved the way
 Broke the ground
 Suffered disappointment
 Even early death 
 While others pushed forward
 Improvised
 Developed methods
 Overcame tradition
 Progressed with technology
 Opened their minds
 Their hearts and souls
 Expanded their thinking
 And acreage
 Families grew
 Equipment modernized
 Became computerized
 An improbable condition
 Beyond reproach
 And those so certain
 Riding on other’s success
 And on top of it all
 Begin to realize
 Their own insignificance 
  
 Why can’t we just be?
 Without being the bigshot 
 Live with humility
 Love and thanksgiving
 Gracefulness
 Giving off positive vibrations
 Improving condition
 For everyone
 Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
 So caring and warm?
  
 Stanski
 August 23, 2019 ^ 

.
 One has hopes
 Spends hard earned money
 On totems of support
 T-shirts, sweaters, caps and banners
 This is the year
 The slate is clean
 A few victories
 And emotions run high
 Then a reversal
 Unexpected losses
 Depression
 The year is over
 All the hoping and effort
 Led to nowhere
 While things that matter
 Have been neglected
 What does it matter?
 Our world is over
 At least until next year
 Isn’t is sad
 Go team
  
 Stanski
 August 23, 2019 ^ 

 I like to listen to
 Those who speak extemporarily 
 Classic presentations
 Without notes
 Knowledgeable of facts
 Forthright – no hesitation
 No confusion
 Confident 
 Existential 
 They expose the lies
 Answer with the truth
 Leave no doubt
 In those with open minds
  
 I hear rebuttals by
 Those heralded by the fake news
 I listen to their utterances
 Proclamations read off of
 A prompter or notes
 Glasses low on the nose
 In a Hollywood way
 The lies are read and
 Nodding heads on the panel 
 Also known as talking heads
 Give necessary affirmation
 They leave no doubt to
 Those riding the wrong horse
  
 Stanski
 August 21, 2019 ^  
 
 
 
 
 

 The slip asked for the group leader
 I signed my pen name “Stanski”
 Someone asked who in hell Stanski was
 Do you believe in God, I asked
 What has that to do with it?
 It has a lot to do with it
 God has an angel in me
 The angel uses pennames 
 Sometimes they are my names
 This is one of them
 I believe in evolution someone said
 Then I can answer that, too
 Stanski evolved over the years
 First it was Stanislaus Kuperski the Firski
 Then Stanislaus Kuperski
 Then Stansberry McKricken
 Followed by A.H. McKricken
 Sometimes I used my own name
 Some people called me Stans
 Then Stanski evolved
 Pretty easy to follow, isn’t it?
 Yes, except the part about the angel
 I believe in angels and also in miracles
 I have been a part of small miracles
 Only angels can partake in them
 People have called me their angel
 What more must you know?
 The critics were all silent
 They knew they had been had
 There was no false worship, but
 They were not true believers
 Standing back they said, well 
 I guess that is it
 He made his point validly 
 Both the spiritual and the evolutionary
 Covered every possibility 
 Did it persuasively 
 That’s Stanski for you
  
 Stanski
 June 14, 2017 ^ 

Poet, muse, light, dark, bewildered, sensitive, instigator, arbitrator, thinker, jokester, actor, creator, angel, formulator, digester, hopeful, writer, reader, singer, doer, realist, prompter, optimistic, giver, promoter, advisor, builder, definer, defying, resistor, landscaper, father, grandfather, widower, brother, cousin, collector, believer, and humble.