less nimble of foot
a more slow shuffling gait
these old tired legs
their walks much shorter these days
yet no less filled with wonder
Herb Stone
videos by author
less nimble of foot
a more slow shuffling gait
these old tired legs
their walks much shorter these days
yet no less filled with wonder
Herb Stone
videos by author
tanka: autumn mundane and sublime
morning cool and crisp
throw a blanket on the bed
earth’s in its orbit
sun low on the horizon
light and shadow at my door
photo by author
poem: a husband/caregiver’s lament
speaking honestly now,
crying out into the silence,
seeking to project
understanding, hope, and healing
into the challenge of
giving care to a beloved
having no time
for platitudes,
sentimental claptrap,
and well-meaning advice,
these self serving idols
of comfort, security, positive-thinkers
do not tell me
about long goodbyes
and cruel diseases;
the stigmas of Alzheimer’s, and
its resulting isolation and lack of support,
are contemptible in our competitive society
and so we two, together here and now,
presently in our deathless love,
falling upward into this simple, sweet life,
sharing warm hugs, a deep mutual attentive
presence, and loving-kindness for all beings
in deep gratitude
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
September 12, 2022
photo by author ‘Resting’ and “Here and Now”
Author note: I have labored to write this
piece for weeks in an effort to bring a balance
in the tension between living in a society
that does not value the aging resulting
in trite sentimentality, the isolation of individuals and caregivers,
and the lack of compassionate support and care, vis-a-vis
the reality of caregiver spouses and their
beloved with Alzheimer’s living and loving
with presence and attention together
here and now. Their is a great need for
everyone to better understand those living
with this disease and for more compassionate and accessible
support and care. Let us love one another!
sharp breath of fresh air
dancing leaves shimmering green
on the morning breeze
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
September 9, 2022
video by author
for weary souls
attention narrowing
deep in thought
blank stare
unmoored in rough seas
sensing distress
husband and caregiver
wife and charge
weary souls connect
gently taking her hand
and whispering
“we need some loving-kindness”
she smiles tenderly back at me
metta, compassion,
benevolent tender affection
re-centering us back
in the here and now
loving-kindness
is our healing balm
for much of the weariness
of this world
may all beings be safe
may all beings be free of pain and suffering
may all beings be whole
may all beings be loving and loved
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
September 5, 2022
photo and quote by author
the wind a cool breeze
sun dappled leaves flickering
Spirit carry me
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
September 2, 2022
video by author
turn up sound
Thanks to Ana Lisa de Jong, dear poet friend,
whose recent poem ‘Topiary’ gave me a
much needed creative spark.
I, being a witness of here and now,
maintaining spiritual consciousness,
invitational presence, and attentive
mutuality, connecting deeply at soul level,
opening to the wholeness of other
we, belonging here together in beloved
community, falling upward in grace and love,
cycling through the bardo, eternally together
with the supreme in cosmic union,
that am I (tat tvam asi)
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
August 28, 2022
photo by author
“Here is, in truth, the whole secret of
Yoga, the science of the soul. The active
turnings, the strident vibrations, of
selfishness, lust and hate are to be stilled
by meditation, by letting heart and mind
dwell in spiritual life, by lifting up the
heart to the strong, silent life above, which
rests in the stillness of eternal love, and
needs no harsh vibration to convince it of
true being.”- Patanjali, The Yoga Sutras of
Patanjali
“The Perennial Philosophy is expressed
most succinctly in the Sanskrit formula,
tat tvam asi (‘That art thou’); the Atman,
or immanent eternal Self, is one with
Brahman, the Absolute Principle of all
existence; and the last end of every human
being, is to discover the fact for himself, to
find out who he really is.” – Aldous Huxley
“It is only those who are in constant revolt
that discover what is true, not the man who
conforms, who follows some tradition. It is only
when you are constantly inquiring, constantly
observing, constantly learning, that you find
truth, God, or love.”- Jiddu Krishnamurti
hint of autumn sky
sunrise casting clouds of pink
waning crescent moon
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
August 20, 2022
photos by author
haiku: Earth’s invitation
the morning so soft
and gentle in its greeting
held deep in embrace
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
August 17, 2022
photos by author
‘Just Outside My Door’
poem: initiation
witnessing life’s tension
with both/and mind,
opening to the complementary
experiencing the interconnectedness
of all things (oneing),
the initiated adult
in the the second half of life emerges
from their ego’s protective shell
of small self becoming
an invitational presence
of mutuality and belonging
here and now in the
beloved community
Herb Stone
August 15, 2022
here&now working poetry