Category Archives: life

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: “maybe not being on the way is also the way”

			
						

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poem: “maybe not being on the way


is also the way”at one with life’s Cosmic Flow,

in the True Self and Authentic Nature

of all things here and now,

the way is eternally unending










our story becomes broken

when things become hard,

we pick and choose: ego erupts,

shadows creep in, suffering ensues


one feels they have lost the thread of life,

are off the path, are in exile,

lost in the dark night of the soul,

no longer walking towards home


maybe once on the way, there is no way

but the way; the conscious/unconscious,

engaged/disengaged, yin/yang,

wholeness of it all


“nothing goes away until it teaches us

what we need to learn”: isolation,

grief, loss, illness, doubt, heartbreak;

all are the way on the way


within the complementary tension of Cosmic

Flow, here is the Truth, Authenticity,

and Wholeness that guides us step by step

unending in the eternal way of all things


Herb Stone

here&now working poetry

November 19, 2022


author’s note: the title of the poem is a quote from the writing of Toka-Pa Turner.

The quote in the fifth stanza is a quote from the writing of Pema Chodron. I am

grateful to these two contemporary seers for their deep wisdom, writing, and

teachings which inspires me to reflect and write as I seek to know for my Self.


image: Cosmic Dust Flow, NASA Hubble Space Telescope


























No photo description available.



















































					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
haiku: autumn’s winds and lover’s whispers

			
						

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haiku: autumn’s winds


and lover’s whispers








wind in the red oak leaves

on the bridge crossing the creek

whispers sweet nothingsHerb Stone

here&now working poetry

November 10, 2022


video by author

“Love Is In The Air”


turn on sound











					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
haiku: flickering memories

			
						

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haiku: flickering memories


Totties’ white crochet

in Fall’s dancing light adorns

the royal blue chair


Herb Stone

here&now working poetry

October 31, 2022


photo by author


author’s note: remembering my maternal grandmother, Aline Feustel Martin (1889-1979), who we grandchildren called Tottie all her life.



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
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: 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