Steve Haarman

Blackbirds flying about

In and out of the shadows

Provided by the sparse

Sunshine. The gray lake

Looks cold and little wind

Is blowing. Except for

Patches here and there

The snow is all gone

We are near the beginning

Of May and some steady

Change to the warmer

Should be taking place

We are looking for the

Showers that will bring

Us the flowers that bloom

In May. We will keep

Watching for the robins

And bluebirds and chickadees

They will make us happy

And worth the wait

Gardens will grow and

The flowers glow as the

Birds play hide and seek

Stanski

April 26, 2023, ^

It is hard to believe

That so many days

Are without sunshine

And leave us in a daze

We wait patiently

For things to change

To do it ourselves

Is out of our range

We look at the sky

White with some blue

The water is calm

Waves are held with glue

The end of April

Is almost here and

The flowers will come

There is no need to fear

To the resurrected Son

All glory has been given

Now we are locked in gray

As though it were a prison

I know that we lament

And waste time waiting

It is kind of foolish

We should be out parading

When we see darker clouds

Upon the greening hill

We know that we will

Soon see the daffodils

Our spirits will be risen

All glory to the One

Now we can enjoy

Our days in the sun

Now things seem normal

Gone are the days of wishing

Our yard tools are waiting

And we know our mission

Stanski

April 24, 2023, ^

The cross was heavy and

His body beat from the

Scourging, but he didn’t

Quit. Simon of Serene

helped carry it to Calvary

where Jesus was crucified

and hailed as the King of

the Jews. We all feel bad

about the suffering, but

he did it to make our

salvation possible. It would

be fitting for us, in an effort

to help carry the cross, to

help those in need that

enter into our lives. He told

us that himself and said that

the Holy Spirit would be with

us to support us and give us

courage. So many times we

neglect our opportunity to

serve in this way and still go

to him for his help in meeting

our needs. This is so one-sided

we should hang our heads in

shame for neglecting an inherent

responsibility. By doing the right thing

we would find joy and have

abundant self worth. Now is the time

I came to a divide in a golden wood

And chose the path less traveled and

This has made all the difference.

So it shall be.

Stanski

April 22, 2023, ^

Today is like yesterday

Bright and gray

An early start to the

Hospital to hang art

New methods are being

Employed. The walls are

Not flooded with beautiful

Art but the works are spaced

Out so as to not smother

The onlookers. For the most

Part everything is in balance

And the filling in is going

According to script. Much

Was accomplished but more

Is to be done. With fifteen

People on the committee

It is difficult to come to

Complete agreement on

Everything. So a compromise

Is in order. It is said that you

Wind up with a camel when

You wanted a palomino. It is

Not that bad here and a little

Give and take are necessary.

So far the people like the way

Things are coming together

Many hands make light the

Work and a lot of the stuff

Purchased from the “art.com”

Group has been set aside. It

May be auctioned off later at

A fund raising event. More work

Will be finished later.

Stanski

April 21, 2023, ^

There are the whitecaps

And the green of the pines

Brown ground with grass

Everything else is gray

Wind is blowing, actually

Roaring and it is difficult to

Stand up. People wonder

What happened to easter

It came and it went in a

Shade of gray. Now we are

Waiting for May. There has

To be a change. We need

Sunshine to dry out the ground

It is raining now with hardly

A sound. Early vacationers

Are disappointed and who

Can blame them. Their play

Toys are wet. They thought

They had made a safe bet

But disappointment affects

Us all at times. There are

People who have it much

Worse. Times will change

We will all be happy

Stanski

April 20, 2023, ^

We are missing the sun

Have seen it only briefly

Over the last few months

This can’t last forever

Easter Sunday was cold

It didn’t feel like spring

Heavy clothing was needed

No flowers from the garden

No sign of any significant change

So we go on, grateful for

What we do have and happy

That the weather isn’t worse

Today the ground is covered

The white is beautiful but

It is time for green and warm

We are looking for warm rain

And gentle breezes, and it looks

Like we will keep on waiting  

Other parts of the world have

It much worse off. There is war

And persecution and annihilation

Churches are locked or bombed

People and starving and there is

No water. We should have no

Complaint and should be doing

All we can do to relieve their suffering

but we are limited in what we can do

Dictators have ordered a stop to

Any help coming to those oppressed

It is a sad, sad situation. We can pray

That those suffering do not lose their

Faith. This is asking a lot, and they no longer

Have the leadership they should have

The pope speaks words but they ring

Hallow. We need countries to come together

rather than choosing their safest situation

which changes according to who has the

upper hand. We are all accountable.

We have been taught and it is up to us.

The sun will eventually shine

Stanski

April 19, 2023, ^

Looking out at the light gray sky

The green of the pine trees

Is a huge bonus

The inland sea is a uniform gray

Very little wind is blowing

The day is April 18, 2023

Carol and I were married

On this date in 1964

We were in our 47^th year

When cancer took her life

She was a great bride and

A wonderful mother

She looked out for six who

By nature had six agendas

And met their every need

She was proud of them and

She had no complaints

Her children came first and

Then if we had time we

Shared a bottle of wine

With six, everyone could

Not always have their way

They learned to understand

On Saturdays we went to

The meat market and bakery

We always had an extra loaf

Of Vienna for on the way home

In the summer we added the

Farmer’s market. We always

Had a great time. We took

Care of five acres of land,

Planting trees and mowing lawn

We put in a basketball court and

A swimming pool. There was

Always something to do.

She has been gone for over

Twelve years. We miss her so and

Our love for her cannot be measured

We hope for some sunshine as a

Sign that she knows

Stanski

April 18, 2023, ^

We should be working hard while waiting

for peace. The left is pushing for world

control. Jesus gave us a free will

He allows evil to exist, but not unpunished

The liberal left exploits the Christians

They are enslaved, tortured, and slain

Some non-Christians are starved

They are forced to fight a war where

They will surely dive, leaving their

Family hopelessly alone and hungry

There are few speaking out against this

The pulpits are quiet, and the media

Acts as if they do not see. There will be

A price to pay for this dereliction of duty

The only group that will control the world

Is the one which follows the good Shepherd

He will protect the vanquished and restore

The peace we are all looking for. In the

Meantime it is up to us to forgo our wants

And give to others as the need arises

When judgment takes place, we will

Understand that our needs were minimal

Many chose luxury over helping our fellowman

There is a divide between the two, and we

Can have it both ways if we try hard enough

The more we help others, the less our own

Needs seem, and we can live on the bare minimum

Our esteem will be held high in the eyes of the Lord

The left, who claim to know all the answers

Will have a lot to answer for. Jesus expects us all

To act wisely and will be stern against those who

Did not listen to his word. He told us to go to the

Fringes and help until order takes place and then

To go to the next area of need and keep working

And giving of ourselves for others. Do not give

Until it hurts, but give until it feels good

When the left runs out of money, they will lose all

Control. It is then that we will have one flock

And one Shepherd and one hell of a fire. We will

Hear the screams and the gnashing of teeth.

Stanski

April 17, 2023, ^

I miss the blues

I have the music

It is the sky

Gray thrills me for

About a minute

Then I am ready

For the real thing

I look up and see

The real thing

I wonder what else

Is there besides the color

Are there spirits there

Amongst the stars

Invisible during the day

Do they have a special angle

Which can penetrate my soul

And make my heart throb for

Things of the unknown

That must be it for I never

Seem able to rest and

Clear my mind of want

I do not think that is bad

We should always be searching

For things beyond us unless

We enjoy living a dull life

This of course is all out of

The realm of spirituality

That alone is enough to keep

Me thinking and exploring

Regardless of the sky’s color

My mind has been wandering

It is time for reality

There is much to do

regardless of condition

nothing ever was accomplished

by laying out excuses or

dreaming unreal dreams, but

still it is wise to dream, just

incorporate some action and

life will move along fine

Stanski

April 11, 2023, ^