Steve Haarman

Morning was bright with sunshine

The horizon merged with the clouds

There was no dread to be seen

No evil speaking out loud

The summer is behind us, but

Still gives hints of existence

The autumn leaves have fallen

Their color disappeared.

Tamaracks still show promise

Different stages of color

From deep golden to brown

Soon they too will be on the ground

With winter around the corner

We will be longing for these days

But we must face up to it

Snow, ice, and slippery roads

First we will have thanksgiving

And have much to be thankful for

Then preparing for the birth of Christ

The greatest gift, our redeemer

The Romans, afraid of a young king

Sent an edict calling for death of

Males under a year, making many

Live with fear. We wish for now in the

Promise of  a happier new year

Stanski

November 11, 2023, ^

Jordan had the Palestinians who

Believed in a different form of Islam

Leave their country. This was many

Years ago. No Arab country would

Take in this sect of Arabs so they

Settled on claiming part of Israel

As their own and formed the PLO,

With Yassar Arafat leading the way.

Soon other Arab countries joined

With the idea of eradicating the

Jews. Over the years several attempts

Were made to have a peaceful

Middle East. At one point Barak

Was willing to give the Palestinians

95% of what they requested, but

This offer was refused because it did

Not include the exile of the Jews.

Over the years the Golen Heights was

Turned over to the PLO and later

The Gaza strip. Many American Presidents

Have been involved and many peace

Prizes have been given, but still we have

The issue. The Arabs want a Palestinian

State on Israel’s land. Even today there

Is talk of this. But the real issue is the

Existence of the Jews. Their demise will

Never take place.

Stanski

November 8, 2023, ^

I love to write

Especially when

The outcome is great

Who do I write for?

Myself and loved ones

Friends and fellows

I am encouraged

When kind comments

Come my way

Many, many words

Many, many miles

Good and bad

It all comes out

I watch a bird

Dive into lake water

Spear a fish

Live for another day

The ways of nature

The ways of poets

Not everyone satisfied

Nor do all understand

Poetry mimics life

Or maybe the other way

Some cringe at

The route to survival

A fish dies, the bird lives

Until an eagle changes that

This is not a human plan

More a law of nature

I’ll examine myself

The good, bad and the ugly

Regrets for some

Humility for others

Nothing changes yesterday

We have just today

Tomorrow when it comes

Begins with a clean slate

When we look back

We see a blur

Yesterday gone

I write for today

My words will fade

In the same way

Only the truth of them

Will endure forever.

Stanski 11/07/2023, ^

Telephone notes

Overdue bills

   Add to clutter

Looking like a power pole

In Chinatown

Dirty clothes

   And ashtrays

Dripping faucets

Rust-stained shower with

   No clean towels

Kitchen sink full

   Of dirty dishes

Refrigerator empty

   With no hope of refill

Glass in side door

   Patched with duct-tape

Covered with weather-proof

   Plastic tacked in with carpet nails

Parents have been gone for how long?

   Too long is the answer

No chance on getting them back

Died with tears in their eyes

   And with broken hearts

Although not from pain, but

   Disappointment in not

Having claim to success

   In their effort to

Teach esteem and reliability

Self-respect was a foreign word

Laundry room full

   Of everything but

Soap and bleach

   Dryer without vent

Clothes just lay there

   No hope of seeing them clean

      Know what I mean?

This thing I’m on has to stop

   And let me off

No need to be this way

   Turn it around or

Start on fresh ground

   Which may not be better

Stanski

November 6, 2023, ^

We begin by falling back,

No way of keeping track 

Of trying there is no lack

Just have to improve my tact

Water is calm and at peace

The storm is likely to cease

Our history will have a crease

The enemy chose soldiers and police

Funded by our enemy who

Stood and took money as pay

But deceit got in their way

Stolen weapons had their say

We didn’t look far for the enemy

We knew there wasn’t a rush

For inside our network we

Found that the enemy was us

Our Lord is a mighty Lord

One who knows the truth

Those who cheat, lie and steal

To Him have no appeal

He promised a homeland

For His people to depend

Bombarded by the enemies

He will never let that stand

As they slowly disappear

You can hear Israel cheer

Stanski on November 5, 2023,k ^

The sun is bright

Birds out of sight

Last leaves in flight

Could cause some fright

Day began soon  

Now afternoon

Clouds begin to plume

I listen for angels to croon

Still have work, in yard

It is not very hard 

Especially if working with a pard

Soon be playing some cards

Winter is getting near

See the fur on the deer

They stay quiet out of fear

Guns don’t mix well with beer

Stanski

November 4, 2023, ^

No melody; just ripping, dropping,

cussing and other unexplained noises

keep me from focusing in on what

I am going to be doing. 

Time idles away until finally

the noise subsides and I am able to

proceed with calm hands

and peaceful mind.

No one can preach to a fire siren or

play music to a lawnmower. 

Steady, steady I proceed,

filling in blank spaces on

the paper in front of me. 

I don’t expect a Whitman,

Frost, or Sandburg, but

hope for something acceptable

to the less critical eye.

This is daytime, so

the natural mystic of the night

is not going to aid me in any way. 

My arousal will come

from sources unknown. 

Music will help so

I listen to soft jazz. 

It helps my rhythm and

tweaks my creative side

in just the right shades

of expression and inspiration

for the way I am feeling now. 

Help is needed and

my attempt to provide it

through poetry has worked in the past,

but that soul baring, tortuous procedure is difficult, even though I give it my all.

Many have counseled with words.

I proceed while finding it

difficult to stay focused on my resolve. 

The whole wall, if you want to look at it

in that way, may crumble and

fall to the ground before

the impact of this missive has

a chance to challenge or soothe.

I only

have the present,

so I will use what I come up with,

hoping for the best and

will attempt to get in the zone,

so to speak, at a later date. 

This is never easy. 

There is no logical basis

for expecting success,

except that you have been

there before and triumphed. 

The world of the living goes on

and the array of emotions can blend

together to present a reassuring effect.

When approaching the spiritual realm,

in which one has suffered

a heartbreaking loss,

feelings spatter in all directions

and finding a safe harbor

takes more time than

those on the outside can comprehend. 

Still, I go on and will keep writing

until I find the right touch,

the warm balm that begins the healing. 

Stanski

November 3, 2023, ^

I sit with a wondering mind waiting for words to come

that will bring fresh air to what I write.  We are in what

appears to be a divided country, but it is not an equal division. 

There are many empty heads walking around oblivious to what is

taking place in their community, local schools and government. 

They appear to have no interest or are just content to live

their life as they have been with no apparent purpose. 

For many it is just meal to meal, watch television shows and

go to bed.  Some are slowly indoctrinated and are only aware of

the last thing they have read.  Many tend to be on the left because

they were good union people and followed directions accordingly. 

Now they automatically vote for those on the left without

giving it much thought.  Others vote for the left because

their family has always voted for the Democrats for generations. 

The same goes for those on the right.  They do not realize that

the two parties are not the same today as they were sixty years ago.

A good share of the congressional people who represent us are

members of the swamp.  They have sold their souls in the most

discrete way for financial gain which come with an attachment—

that is they have an obligation to their benefactors.  There are

many people who have drifted away from their party affiliations

and are voting according to their conscience.  They are called

Bible-thumpers, Gun-clingers and Deplorables, but they are

the majority.  They want border security, the constitution,

a small Federal Government, a strong Military, and low taxes. 

They desire equal opportunity for all and are respectful of others rights.

My yearning is for a drained swamp, prosecution of the criminals and

a separation into two political parties which basically have

the same goals but differ in the way to achieve them. 

I also yearn for schools of choice which avoid indoctrination

but teach the constitution and our history accurately.

The students are enclosed in a small space and no two are alike.

They learn in different ways and may be bored within a short time.

To teach effectively is not an easy task and to drift away and

give up on your purpose happens as we review test results.

We have many broken systems to fix in this country and

Socialism is not a valid option.

Stanski

November 2, 2023, ^

There are many people out there

Who just react instinctively. They

Apply no critical thinking while

Maintaining, in their mind, an

Even keel. Bad things are happening

All around them and they seem

Oblivious or just don’t care.

The world gets messed up in a

Hurry when enough don’t care.

We need to care and act in a way that

Promotes healing and reduces hatred.

Each day is different, but we must

Stick, to our principles and attempt

To correct the bad things around us.

It is what the shepherd would do

And if we are to follow Him, it is

What we should do. the world goes

Around once for each of us and we must

Not waste opportunities. The cross is

For us to help bear and failure to do so

Is just plain failure. We are better than

That and must think things through.

Before walking away. Remember His

words, “Stand with Me”

Stanski

November 1, 2023, ^

We have to reconcile ourselves

With the martyrs who risk their

Lives on a daily basis in order to

Bring the words of Jesus to their

Neighbors and friends. It is not an

Easy assignment but they undertake

It willingly. We must make our sacrifice

For them so that they may continue.

Some lose their lives, are tortured

And jailed. They know their mission

And continue to bring peace through

Christ to the many who want to know

All they can about this devout man

Who is the son of God and who gave

His life for us so that we may have

Everlasting life with Him. There are many

Who do not believe and we may

Petition for them while keeping in mind

Our own souls and those who have yet

To hear about Him. To have a hand in

Bringing the hope for salvation to one

Person would be a great accomplishment.

The world is in an uproar at this time

But we must not lose hope.

Stanski

October 31, 2023, ^