Jonathan Humphrey

I’ve Never Heard of a Wind Stone

the know-how
of nowhere
tundra wind

I’ve been dreaming of wind stones again.

Thus far, only three dry creek beds in the world are known to produce these naturally occurring cubes of agate that control the weather. They are located in Bamboi, Ghana, Bauru, Brazil and Beattyville, Kentucky. The stones are activated by placing one of their sides on a flat surface and rotating clockwise like a volume knob to increase airflow, or counter-clockwise to decrease airflow.

Each side has a different magnitude and threshold, and the power generated can range from blown kiss to brickfielder. It’s taken years of recurring imagery to piecemeal a basic understanding of what these peculiar stones are and how they behave. Here’s what I’ve come up with:

boulders lean
into the foehn
a lexicon

Of the 38 extant stones, 30 are classified as 1dW, meaning only one of their sides is functional. All of these 1dW stones are low grade, aka  “breeze-force,” fixtures that would struggle to lift a dense bough of honeysuckle blossoms. I’ve seen a few up for sale on eBay.

Three stones are classified as 2dW, with two functional sides. Their highest rated faces are said to conjure “gust-force” winds and are useful in toppling lawn furniture and skewing the flight of birds. All three are in private collections.

Two stones are 3dW and can pull “gale-force” winds from the heavens when properly calibrated. These twin stones from the Bamboi creek bed in Ghana are now owned and operated by the Russian military.

One 4dW stone exists and is locked into position on an African port facing West. Its grading is “trade-force” and ensures the swift passage of ships and planes across the Atlantic.

One 5dW stone is “hurricane-force” and is named “Asa Do Anjo” or “Angel’s Wing.” The only stone of Brazilian origin, it has been tested twice in the Arizona desert and is held at an undisclosed location by the United States government.

The final wind stone is of 6dW classification and graded “solar-force.” I found it at a landscaping store in Beattyville, KY. I use it to wake solar flares, the blinding arms of energy that shake me from the dream.

spring breeze
just like before
never before

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Notes:

“the know-how” first appeared in The Heron’s Nest XXII, Number 1.

“spring breeze” first appeared in the Golden Haiku Poetry Contest 2023.

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About the Author

Jonathan Humphrey’s work has recently appeared in Acorn, Frogpond, Modern Haiku, and The Heron’s Nest. With a fondness for whiskey and whippoorwills, he divides his time between the lights of Nashville and the woods of his native Kentucky.

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