Category Archives: wholeness

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: “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.



















































					

		
		
	


				
					
	

				
					
	

		

						
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: 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