Category: belonging
poem: days, seasons/self, divine/community, cosmos
poem: days, seasons/self, divine/community, cosmos
arising early, the new day,
in pitch black darkness
the cold in my bones
silence surrounds me
the earth under
a blanket of ice and snow,
winter’s last gasp
before spring’s riot
in this season of self-introspection,
reflecting on this age of
spiritual greed and idolatrous self-serving
confronting difficult truths and personal discomfort,
longing for a more wholesome
footing with the Divine
Beloveds, the Spirit as close
as our next breath,
breath in, breath out,
inhale ‘Yah’, exhale ‘weh’
softening our hearts,
forsaking worldly rewards,
longing for Authentic Community together,
being as One in Divine Cosmic Consciousness
lighting the fire of the vital Life Force,
we are all just sojourners here walking one another Home
that thou art
rising, opening, sitting
upon the Lotus Throne of the
Divine Heart of the Cosmos
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
February, 20, 2021
photos by Herb Stone




quote: an old man’s tears
poem: one can not serve two masters
poem: one can not serve two masters
to what dominant influence
are you captive
to what master has your life
become like chattel
is your master
fear, greed, envy,
pride, desire, wrath,
power, control, domination
or is your master
grace, love, Self truth,
wholeness, mutuality, healing,
belonging, Cosmic consciousness
who are we,
what is our purpose,
what is our life’s meaning,
what is it we intend to create here
mind your surroundings,
what are you receiving
with open hands and
on what do you stand
truth, beauty, and goodness
or falsity, repulsiveness, and depravity,
what is it you intend to create
on this Earth with this one, wild life
that which is not transformative
for the personal and collective good
is transmitted as suffering from
person to person and generation to generation
choose to be the change
the world needs and
apply yourself through
disciplined practice benefiting all beings
dedicate yourself to
creative expression which
sets all free, liberates, and
connects all in kinship and belonging
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
February 4, 2021
Art images:
2) Kate Deciccio, ‘Amanda Gorman, American Poet’
quote: “In the alternative neighborly community….”
poem: ode to our nation on inauguration day 2021
poem: ode to our nation on inauguration day 2021
today our nation
inaugurates our 46th.
president and vice president
Joe and Kamala
who feel like family
Papa and Auntie
after the past four years
of a president and his administration
bullying its’ citizens
undermining our rights
eroding our democracy
empowering domestic terrorist
cutting off world allies
causing death and confusion in a pandemic
and leading an insurrection
we citizens of good conscience
find some relief and optimism again
fellow Americans
let us come together
in confession, repentance, and reconciliation
healing one another and our nation
that we will finally do the hard work
of forming a more perfect union together
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
January 20, 2021
Inauguration Day
Photo credits: Vox, AP, AFP
haiku: Cosmic resonance
dawn’s mid-winter glow
your soul emanating light
the Earth calls your name
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
January 18, 2021
photos by Herb Stone
quote: the blessings of dear friends
Reflections: Recuperating and Redeeming the Soul of Our Nation
Sitting here this morning reading the latest news updates and reflecting on yesterday’s attack on our U.S. Capital and our democracy, I feel bereft and forlorn. God knows it has been a very hard year, and more, for all of us and much more for so many others.
Here in my community over the past year we have faced a deadly, destructive tornado to start 2020, the ever worsening pandemic, social injustice and civil unrest, the recent anarchist bombing of our city, and yesterday this attack on our U.S. Capital and our democracy.
And yes, I, like many of you, feel I have left some skin in the fray. Resisting from the very beginning the outgoing presidential administration and its sycophants and the nationalism, fascist, racist, and social injustice it has spawned in our nation at every turn. Those responsible must be held accountable.
Certainly we face more challenges ahead as we work to heal our nation’s wounds and divisions from the flame thrower, hateful, narcissistic fascist bully some would call ‘president.’
Just now, I feel like I need to remove these bloody, shredded clothes hanging from my wounded body, take a deep cleansing soak, get some rest, and recuperate, so I along with you, may return in our efforts together to save the soul of ourselves and our nation.
Beloveds, I always feel better having written it down. And now let us walk each other Home again as True Selves in Authentic Community of Belonging. Thank each of you for being there!

poem: citizens of the kin-dom
poem: citizens of the kin-dom
to whom or what are we loyal?
your tribe
to whom or what do we surrender?
nothing
until one is ready
we live incompletely
from our atomistic state
infills our self-emptying
the Great Cosmic Life Force
communities of belonging together
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
January 3, 2021
image unattributed
