Clarion Stones

  • revised for Lillian at dVerse Poet’s Pub


     
    Clarion Stones

    ~

    all those years ago
    in the time of dangers
    they were placed in secret
    as a silent beacon
    in that deepest night

    waiting for the day
    when the shadowed world
    would waken from the nightmare
    shed its narrow petty ways
    and embrace the way of light

    stacked by those of vision
    blessed in hope and courage
    one upon the other
    like knowledge upon learning
    these standing stones of peace

    hear them call across the ages
    and beckon us to rise
    to step into the future
    to envision a new dream
    to let fear and hatred cease

    ~ ~ ~

    rob kistner © 2010
    (revision © 1/22/19)


    67F4B295-9233-407D-934F-9CA3C5A2B3F5
    stacked stones in Sedona red-rock desert

    _______________________

    These sculptures are called cairns. A cairn is a human-made balanced stack of stones. The word cairn comes from the Scottish Gaelic: càrn. Cairns have been, and still are used for a broad variety of purposes, from prehistoric times to the present. They are stacked as landmarks, direction finders, memorials, and also spiritual reasons, among other purposes.

  • Check out more shedding at dVerse:
    Shed some light on this today!

    • 57 thoughts on “Clarion Stones”

      1. Thank you Viv — I was a naive child of the 60’s who actually believed peace and love was possible, and that we could bring about the new age of wisdom… that vision in me will not die, even in the face of so much evidence that would seem to the contrary, even in the moments I feel overwhelmed — we humans simply MUST find a way to rise to enlightenment!

        …rob

        Reply

    2. I’ve always been struck, while walking in Arlington Cemetery to visit my father’s grave, by the stones placed on the gravestones–a gesture that says so much.

      Lovely poem, Rob.

      Reply

      1. Thank you Sandy — yes, I felt the contrast in scale was very interesting… I have meditated in stacked stone gardens before filled with many and varied arrangements, including a number of times in Sedona — my wife has been one of the artists featured in the Sedona Arts Festival…

        …rob

        Reply

    9. I took many road trips and often brought back a few stones. The photos are lovely and I really like the idea of listening to that compressed wisdom held for centuries, just waiting to be heard.

      Elizabeth

      Reply

    10. Stones stacked in this way always remind me of a sacred place – like a Cathedral in Nature’s space where anyone seeking some spiritual light may stay awhile! Lovely poem!

      Reply

    11. Really agree with your vision Rob. I am also firm believer that peace and enlightenment is possible. Even I have made an attempt to spread inner peace through my blog, The Art of Loving Yourself

      Enjoyed the poem!!

      ~Aniket.

      Reply

    12. the place of peace is here
      the time of love is now

      Yes, Yes, Yes, to this.. simply beautiful.. NOW ..live in the NOW and look it from behind and you know you have WON.. wow!

      Do visit me and bless my 100th post..

      Reply

      1. We live in a world overrun with greed and cruelty, but as you pointed out Stan, we all live in a perpetual now — and now is the perfect time to change things for the better…

        …rob

        Reply

    14. I see I am not the only lover of stones. We live with recent glaciers making our yard a repository for their stories. I call mine, Alters to the Rock God.

      Very nice.

      Gloria

      Reply

    17. So glad you revisited this for the propt, Rob. Now you know, I think, that I’ve been accused of being a Pollyanna? That is…a very very positive person. I think it’s necessary that there of some of us exist in this world…expecially nowadays. I love this post with the stones, some from way way way back…as beacons of peace and hope. I’ve always loved coming upon cairns (these stacks of rock) when we’re hiking. It’s a sign of others out in nature…walking about. I always try to add a stone.

      hmmmm now that could be a new form to explore in poetry…writing a cairn poem….I add a word (or maybe it would be three words — that magical number) and then the next dVerse person adds three more and then the next etc. And the only rule is that it must have a positive lean to it 🙂 Now that would be fun! 🙂

      Reply

    19. I really like the message within your poem and the photo to go with it. Stones that herald a day without fear and hatred is a day that comes soon for humankind and our home.

      Reply

    21. Yes, here’s to more poems that call for the goodness of humanity, that believe there will come a day when we do not succumb to fear and hate.

      Reply

      1. I agree Jade! There is enough cynicism in this damned world. I posted another poem on my site a couple dats ago with the positive vision. It is entitled “Wisdom Of The Ancients”, snd it festures a wonderful sculpture by Rose “Bean” Simpson.

        Reply

    22. Like knowledge upon learning – nice turn of phrase. Your choices in end words are perfect, Rob. Really well written! (and for some reason, I feel like a round of Jenga just this moment…hmmm.)

      Reply

    23. Well written, Rob! “The way of peace they don’t know; and there is no justice in their goings: they have made them crooked paths; whoever goes therein does not know peace.” It’s been so for a long time. …but we can hope.

      Reply

      1. Thank you Kim! Sedona is one of the favorite places my wife Kathy and I like to visit. Absolutely beautiful, being there inspired the initial version of this poem. Kathy and I have been invited in the past to display and sell our work at their October juried art show. I like your perspective on this poem as a cairn

        Reply

    27. What a great poem, and how I was stunned to read the first comment by Viv… a great reminder of a poet passed.

      Love the rhythm and the structure Rob

      Reply

      1. Thank you Bjorn. Viv and I became very close during the years she would write and post to my prompts on my Writer’s Island blog. I have been part of a number of online poetry communities in the past 15 years, becoming cyber-acquainted with a number of poets, for long and short periods. But Viv and I actually became very close, her intial doing, during her years as she grew in confidence posting. She is one of a very very small handful of folks I have encountered online who I would dare call friend. Viv was a “good” friend, snd I frequently read the many comments she left me during her final years. She liked my work and that meant so much to me. I cried when she passed. I sincerely regret never having found a way to meet her face to face. What a tower of a person she was, a bright beacon of light, and genuine special spirt. I have some precious tears right now thinking about her Bjorn. It is my admiration for how that woman lived that has given me strength from time to time, as I have been through my recent life threatening struggles. I say that from the heart, not to be dramatic.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published.