Category Archives: aging

poem: a season of loss

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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.”





























































					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
poem: a missive from a hard winter and a possible return

			
						

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poem: a missive from

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

			
						

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poem: life, dream, prophetic,

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!



















					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
haiku: Christmas past dreams

			
						

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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.






















May be an image of 1 person, indoor and text that says 'while visions of sugar plums danced in her head 2D'



































					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
poem: her morning reverie

			
						

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poem: her morning reverie


framed by the golden light

of the Fall day


in the rocking chair by the window

in the sun’s warmth


body still, mind quiet

eyes soft, breath even


soul ascending

on wings of spirit


ageless dreams

of Home


Herb Stone

here&now working poetry

October 23, 2022


photo by author



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
poem: conscious aging, spiritual foresight, perennial wisdom

			
						

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poem: conscious aging,

spiritual foresight,

perennial wisdommindfully present

flowing in the

universal rhythms

of the Cosmos

here and now


letting go any

pretense of

hubris, sentimentality,

power, control,

and domination


pure being,

not desiring,

doing,

grasping,

or withholding


emptying,

opening,

uniting,

in the eternal, omnipresent

One Peace/One Love


sharing mutually

authentic presence

of belonging: witnesses,

prophets, seers, souls,

and saints


focusing, preparing, practicing,

participating, reflecting,

celebrating, liberating,

transitioning, whole-making,

arriving full-circle










Herb Stone

here&now working poetry

October 20, 2022


photo by author








“Full Circle”





					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
poem: an elder’s perspective on time and space

			
						

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poem: an elder’s perspective

on time and space


thinking of the past is useless

unless it informs the present




always going for the gust

is a fool’s dream


worrying for tomorrow

a thief in the night


thus taking more time

mindfully present here and now










with loved ones, dear friends,

soul mates, and witnesses


wherever you go, there you are

you will find me there


covering less ground somewhere

between disengaged and belonging


close to home

Homeward bound








Herb Stone






here&now working poetry

October 27, 2022




author’s note: My reflection on aging








was sparked after reading Thomas Merton’s


quote, “Take more time, cover less ground.”


John Kabat- Zinn is reflected in a book title


of his, “Wherever You Go, There You Are.”


And Ram Dass’ iconic words, “Be Here Now”


from his book by the same title is


represented in the poem. Merton, a Catholic


monk; Kabat-Zinn, a biomedical scientist


influenced by Buddhism; and Ram Dass,


a Harvard social psychology research professor who became


a disciple of Hindu guru Neem Karoli Baba.


These and others have been my teachers from


whom I have learned about living, aging, and dying.


I have tried to be a good student and continue to learn.






photo by author ‘On the Front Stoop’





					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
poem: a caregiver’s satori

			
						

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poem: a caregiver’s satori


with the beauty of

a new autumn day

this tapestry

of colors


blue, pink, white

sky above

orange, red, yellow

leaves below










a caregiver’s day

begins early

it holding

much to do


caring for

my beloved

ordinary chores

and errands


here and now

this satori moment

and then the laundry,

meals, and dishes










Herb Stone

here&now working poetry

October 13, 2022


photos by author








  



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

				
					
	

		

						
poem: the autumn of life/ winter’s coming

			
						

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poem: the autumn of life/

winter’s coming


suddenly

a gust of Fall breeze

flattens the tall grass

with a swoosh


peacefully

butterflies dart

and flutter

in the frostweed


blissfully

the golden sun rays

play upon our skin

warming our core


gratefully

our breath catches

walking the path

heading home


mindfully

aware winter’s coming

and light’s fading; hope is

a glowing ember in our hearts


Herb Stone

here&now working poetry

October 2, 2022


  photos by author