tanka:time is memory
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Author Archives: Herb Stone
poem: a season of loss
poem: a season of loss
feeling the deep sting of loss
in this dark, wet, cold,
season of mid-winter
and yet, what personal hubris of one’s self
would tell someone to worry about the comfort
and safety of their own ego
only in the dark night of the soul
are we liberated from old attachments
and compulsions so that we love more freely
only with suffering can we
awaken to the deepest
compassion and wisdom of life eternal
and only in healing can one
know the complimentary, both/and,
unitive, full process of suffering
yes, here and now in the second half of life,
it is time to put away our childish ways,
and spiritually discern our falling upward
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
January 27, 2023
photo by author “Home”
author’s note: the second line of the last verse is from 1 Corinthians 13:11.
Richard Rohr has an excellent book titled, “Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the
Two Halves of Life.”
haiku: sky horses
haiku: sky horses
wispy white tails fly
on the highways of blue sky
wild horses run free
wild horses run free
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
January 22, 2023
photo by author
poem: a missive from a hard winter and a possible return
poem: a missive from
a hard winter and a
possible return from deep within
the dark lair
a hard winter and a
possible return from deep within
the dark lair
wounds are salved
and broken things mended
a buffeting wet, cold
winter wind chills the bone
quality of life
frail and weak
free floating soul
battered in the storm
consciousness clouded
the way uncertain
circling in this thin place
in liminal time
letting go of survival instinct
for more understanding
perhaps a bit more repose
into the bardos of uncertainty
faith in one’s good nature,
clarity, and hope of return
opening to what lies beyond,
transformation, re-engagement
the intuitive wisdom of knowing
beyond the mind
emergence of True Self joined
mutually in beloved community
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
January 13, 2023
photo by author
‘Old Coyote in Winter’
poem: life, dream, prophetic, and spiritual signs of aging
poem: life, dream, prophetic,
and spiritual signs of aging
and spiritual signs of aging
life signs: impermanence
everybody and everything changes,
nothing last forever
dream signs: humility and loss
all things arising that must
expand our consciousness
prophetic signs: wisdom and wit
the owl and the coyote
visit our abode
spirit signs: the Eternal Divine
directly knowing the Cosmic
spiritual journey of Oneing
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
January 8, 2023
photo by author
‘Spirit Guides and Prophetic
Companions’
author’s note: in my aging, as
caregiver to a beloved, aging wife,
and with aging family and friends,
I have recently been experiencing
an acute awareness of this later
stage of life all will experience who
live long enough. The poem references
signs I have personally experienced
in a relatively short period of time,
i.e., the last six to eight weeks.
Gratefully, the spiritual traditions
I have practiced over my lifetime
have been a beacon of grace, faith,
and hope in preparation for journeys
to come. Also deeply grateful for dear
friends offering the authenticity of
true belonging. Namaste!
poem: ole coyote warming its bones
poem: ole coyote warming its bones
wiley, wary, weary coyote
dozing in the full sun
of a freezing winter’s morn
a sub-zero night,
scrounging for its food,
its heart is light
witty and wise, clever and savvy,
in nature wholly adaptable,
the old coyote perseveres
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
January 5, 2023
photo by author author’s note: Our local coyote friend,
laying in a favorite sunny spot at the
edge of our woods, during the recent
cold nap this winter with temps
sub-zero and below freezing for several
days. Recently, it came to our
backdoor before sunrise and made a
ruckus, and I peered through the glass;
it was there on the patio just inches away
on the other side of the door. Thanks for
stopping by!
haiku: Christmas Eve
haiku: Christmas Eve
tree lights all aglow
overnight, first winter snow,
all wrapped with a bow
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
December 24, 2022
photos by author
haiku: Christmas past dreams
haiku: Christmas past dreams
remembering past
family Christmases on
the farm of her youth
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
December 20, 2022
photo by author
author’s note: Cathey grew up
on a large dairy farm in rural
Middle Tennessee in a large family
of 10 siblings with their Mom and
Dad. She left home at 19 moving to
Nashville, we married when she
was 27, and we will celebrate her
78th. Christmas this week.
tanka: winter’s feast (out of darkness, light)
tanka: winter’s feast
(out of darkness, light)
cold Advent mornings
dawn’s light shines in the darkness
winter solstice near
the star in the east heralds
earth and heaven intertwine
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
December 17, 2022
photos by author
Author’s note:
I love the season of winter solstice,
Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany to
which I pay homage to my patron saint,
Gertrud Nelson. Gertrud has taught me
more about these traditions and their
authentic meaning than anyone. Nine years
ago, I had the good fortune of meeting
Gertrud and attending her workshop on
these traditions thanks to our dear mutual
friend, Pastor Brian Hooper. Gertrud’s
book, ‘To Dance With God: Family Ritual
and Community Celebration’, has the best
descriptions of these traditions and rituals,
and practical guidance on how to observe
them in our daily lives, than any other resource
I have seen. Her book is available on Amazon,
and I highly recommend it. Following is a
quote from Gertrud describing the workshop
I attended with her: “What could possibly be
more exciting than incarnational theology,
celebrated, taken in, lived, enjoyed, understood?
We have a great store of traditions to draw from,
as we go from darkness to light. The traditions
are ancient and have belonged to people
of all ages. We have a tendency to paint over
these ancient truths with cheap paint and tinsel.
Years of accretions plaster over the hidden
within.….let’s scrape down what dulls the
deepest truths and find the gem.”
To which I say, “Hallelujah!”
haiku: thin places and the time between now and forever
haiku: thin places and the time
between now and forever
between now and forever
wistful hoots echo
in the dark void before light
what yet comes draws near Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
December 14, 2022
in the dark void before light
what yet comes draws near Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
December 14, 2022
author’s note: I recently woke
in deepest, darkest night to a great
horned owl’s hooting and sensed
a moment of spirit connecting
the present and eternity and the
nearness of the divine. Putting this
experience into a poem has led to
much reflection and too many starts
and stops. And now I send it on its
way in hopes it speaks to you.
image unattributed
