Category Archives: nature

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!

poem: ole coyote warming its bones

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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!

tanka: winter’s feast (out of darkness, light)

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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

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haiku: thin places and the time
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

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

tanka: winter’s feast (out of darkness, light)

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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: 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”

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