Steve Haarman

WOSE IDEA WAS THIS

The garden imagined

Nothing now except a jungle

Solutions speculated upon

Various ideas interjected

Other landscape ideas abound

Who really has the answer?

Blame comes into the picture

Previous caretakers

And their neglect

They were part of the problem

But easy to use as expression

There is no exasperation

Just the knowledge of much to do

So the day of reckoning

The beginning of the project

Difficulties overwhelming

The sun beating down

Work beyond comprehension

Whose idea was this anyway?

Perseverance plays its role

Work on that in front of you

Day one, two, and three

Things begin to take meaning

Reality paints its picture

Acceptable to all involved

So thankful there were no quitters

Stanski

May 21, 2025 ^

WHAT TO DO

There is always a way

Nothing is hopeless

Pause and reflect on

What you think is the problem

Who has the control?

Is it about power?

Or can we act and

Resolve our own situation?

That is the question

What can we do?

Cry out victimhood

Or get on our way

Involvement is an answer

A look into the mirror

Try to see solutions

And reduce your fear

Take a look around

There is always action

People taking steps

Some uphill; others down

Usually with no regrets

Patience and courage

Time heals our wounds

And courage allows us to act

Our reason flows with excitement

Maybe we can act and

Resolve what is bothering us

Stanski

May 20, 2025 ^

Many items are treasured

Family photos and heirlooms

All irreplaceable and

Understandably loved

They bring memories

That stir a peaceful soul

Tears, too, flow as we

Think about those gone before

Those are good thoughts

All very emotional

Very acceptable

Part of our humanity

We are encumbered with desire

Seeing beautiful

Things

We naturally would like them

Shiny new trucks and cars

The latest fashions

Clothes, shoes and outerwear

Advertising for jewelry is tempting

Five gold jangles looking good

With blue jeans and a tee shirt

Will look very nice with formal wear

And the cost as advertised

Is a little over 45 thousand dollars

So many distractions

Tempting our desires

What do we really need?

The feeling of belonging

Opportunity to succeed

The feeling of belonging

These are the important things

Along with accomplishment

Everything else is superficial

Still we are human

Bow to temptations, but

Finally resolve with love

Stanski on May 19, 2025 ^

FIGURE IT OUT

I can’t remember what I did tomorrow

I just can’t remember that far ahead

Yesterday is lost and won’t reveal

Something like a Ferris wheel

Spinning in reverse, creating a thrill

First it was up and then down hill

I vacillate and then hesitate

Truth must be yours to know

Sometimes I’m lost in petroglyphs

Interpretation of years old thoughts

An amazing formula for much of the way

Then a stumble, a crack and flow

Peers looking at me for something to say

Friends this is all a mystery

More complicated than a family tree

No sense for some of this

All the effort, why did I enlist

I’m happy, I’m nosey, a busy body

A piece of the action is the real jest

Almost a taste of victory, then it got cloudy

What can I do, I re-enlist

Will work as a team to decipher this quiz

We will all raise our cups to victory

No one will claim they were the whiz

We’ll remember what we did tomorrow

Forget all about yesterday

Complications do not need to exist

Spirits of the past stir us today

Stanski

May 18, 2018 ^

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STANDING UP WHEN NEEDED

We worry about poll numbers

They have no bearing on reality

Human condition is what is important

It can usually be improved, but it

Takes courage to stand and mention

How, so many good ideas are never

Known.  Those not speaking may

Be afraid of being scorned.  They

Have seen others denied the

Opportunity to express their plan

In general, but keep it secret among

A few valiant and trusted associates

Little progress is made when this

Happens, but we constantly need

To improve.  Ideas grow upon other

Ideas and growth occurs as we

Move forward, constantly trying

To make things better.  Now we have

Vehicles which drive and park themselves

Cars that run on batteries; there are

Shortcomings but gradually we remove

The kinks.  Flights into space are

Becoming more frequent because we

Have wealthy individuals willing to

Invest and take risk.  It is amazing to

Watch this type of involvement.  The

Government has the propensity to

Waste and have cost overruns

Besides making the same mistakes

To stand up may mean ridicule and

Death.  Spies needed in war efforts

Are hard to find for this reason.  We see

What must be done; stake out enemy

Positions and then get the details back

Without getting caught.  This is difficult

To do and during the British invasion of

New York, one man Nathan Hale saw the

Need to volunteer to be a spy.  He was

Caught and sentenced to die.  He was

Given a chance for final words and while

Being heckled by the British, finished his

Oratory with the immortal and inspiring

Words, “I only regret that I have but one

Life to give for my country.  He redefined

Patriotism.  We should seek his courage

   Stanski on May 16, 2025