Category Archives: healing

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: 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: 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: a husband/caregiver’s lament

			
						

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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!










 

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
poem: loving-kindness for weary souls

			
						

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poem: loving-kindness




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







					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
poem: a harsh season

			
						

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poem: a harsh season




this late summer’s day

sitting among the blooms

of garlic and petunias 

admiring their beauty

during a brief respite from

the season’s searing heat 


she nearby with a wry smile,

resting on her cane, eyes closed,

lost in a reverie 


the past 12 months

of our life’s second half

its own harsh season




 


mindful that earthly forms

wither and fade

yet souls hold their beauty 


grateful for the radical

acceptance and love

of mutual belonging 


aware that our most

high Spirit resurrects

in Cosmic harmony of All 


yes, in the late summer

of our harsh year, seeing

the Beauty now and to come 


Herb Stone

here&now working poetry

August 6, 2022 


photos by author 


Author’s note: The past twelve

months have seen a string of acute

illnesses, chronic health concerns,

and injuries for my beloved. We

weather the harsh season together,

and discover the Beauty that survives

and endures now and to come.






  

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

				
					
	

		

						
poem: invitational presence

			
						

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poem: invitational presence


like the lodestar

in the dark of night

calling us to safe harbor


the host setting

an extra place at the table

for the unexpected guest


the healer connecting

deeply with others

through their own wounds


the creative soul

offering its expression

as a gift to the universe


the True Self animating

our life together

in communities of belonging


the spirit uplifting

the life and dignity

of all oppressed beings


the dear friend who

senses our need

and reaches out in support


being the invitational presence

subtly communicating to all

one’s radical acceptance and inclusion


Herb Stone

here&now working poetry

July 22, 2022


self photo “Opening the Heart Chakra’


Author’s note: Each of us can cultivate

an invitational presence which is key

to fostering healthy beings, relationships,

and communities of authentic belonging.

An excellent resource on invitational

presence and belonging is Toko-Pa Turner’s book,

‘Belonging: Remembering Ourselves Home.”

This is an area I must continually work on due to

a temperament for solitude.