Dawn's Early Light III

 

  

Soft clouds turn

gray to pink

as they gather

dawn's early light.

 

Aging cattails

frame the lake,

its water still warm

from late summer heat.

 

Ethereal vapors

rise like spirits,

drifting slowly

within silver fog.

 

Preparing to unveil

the now bold colors

as autumn deepens

into this bold season.

 

Time unfolds,

morning opens;

offering a fresh start,

another gift from God.

 

©  2013  Richard Havenga

 

 

 

 

 

You may also like: Dawn's Early Light  and  Dawn's Early Light II 



 

 

 

Click on photos to enlarge.

 

Photo Location:

 

McCarthy Lake,  Kent County,  Michigan  (Michigan)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Father Nature's Neighborhood

I am blessed to live out here in the country. I want to share some of the views I found on a recent drive through my neighborhood:

Egypt Valley State Game Area



Wood Ducks

Pickerel Lake Park

Silver Maple

Wittenbach Farm

 

 

Drying Corn

 

 

Belted Kingfisher

 

 

Townsend Park

Blok Orchards

Pickerel Lake Park

Did you enjoy your visit?

Isn't Autumn awesome?

Which photographs are your favorites?

Thank you for coming to "Father Nature's" Neighborhood.


Click on photos to enlarge.

Aspen Fire

Walking along this shaded trail,
around the bend, on the ridge,
scattered among deep green spruce.

This sudden appearance.
This bright surprise.
I am stunned.

Breathless.
Captured by the light
of extravagant creation.

The Spirit summons.
Penetrates my soul.
Ignites a joyful song.
I feel recreated.

Aflame with passion.
Thankful for my vision.
Grateful for His presence.

I attend this aspen fire.
Let it grow.
Out of control,

with
triumphant
words of praise.

© 2013  Richard Havenga

Click on photo to enlarge.

Photo Location:

Grand Mesa,  (Grand Mesa)  Colorado  (Colorado) 



October Morning

wind carries spent leaves

raindrops collect during the night

morning has broken

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on photos to enlarge 

 

Photo Location:

 

Townsend Park,  (Townsend)  Kent County,  Michigan  (Michigan)


White Oak - Quercus alba

Sugar Maple - Acer saccharum







Why We Live Here - 2

Here are two more reasons why we love to live in our rural area, by McCarthy Lake:



North Shore

 



South Shore

 

 

We are truly blessed. 

 

 

 You may also like to view : "Why We Live Here" - Oct. 26, 2012

 

 

Photo Location:

 

 

Grattan Township,  Kent County,  Michigan  (Michigan)

 

Only Silence Remains

Early light
flares in the fog.
The wide river
keeps gliding by.

Patient. Persistent.

Waiting for words
to emerge from
the quiet current,
I reflect
upon the silence.

Wait. Listen.

Like the veil of vapor
suspended above
the bed of moving water,
I gather
thin thoughts.

Temporary. Transitory.

The Spirit has spoken.
The words evaporate.
Only silence remains.

©  2013  Richard Havenga



(Click on photos to enlarge)

Photo Location:

Grand River,  (Grand) Kent County,  Michigan

Voices of the Stars

After the river
spends the night
whispering, listening
beneath a ceiling
of stars,

I take an early
morning walk
with the river
still flowing
in smooth silence.

The silky skin
of water
now putting on
the soft fabric
of dawn.

Now dressed in daylight.
Hesitant to share
the nightly secrets
heard from the voices
of the stars.






Photo Location:

Flat River,  (Flat River)  Fallasburg Park,  (Fallasburg)  Kent County,  Michigan

The Last Dance

Listen to the leaves landing.
Soft as pages turning.

Each leaf,
after a brief
dance with gravity,
falls with grace
to meet its shadow.

The last dance.
The last page.

 

©  2013  Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Fallasburg Park,  (Fallasburg)  Lowell, (Lowell)  Michigan (Michigan)


Sugar Maple - Acer saccharinum

Sassafras Statement

yellow in green woods

first indicator of fall

sassafras statement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Want to learn much, much more? See: "Sassafras Class"

 

Photo Location:  Home Woods



 

  

Sassafras - Sassafras variifolium 

 



Gifts of Gold

This fresh appearance
of golden arches flowering
signals summer ending,
autumn approaching,
September aging.

 

Gracefully curving

above stiff stalks
of bunched leaves,
tiny towers topped
with yellow flame.

Admired, desired,
gathered in a vessel
labeled "gifts of gold"
the comfort of memories
to keep, to hold.

Canadian Goldenrod - Solidago canadensis
Smooth Goldenrod - Solidago juncea


Photo Locations: 

Home Woods 

Townsend Park,  (Townsend)  Kent County,  Michigan  (Michigan)