Face of God

Where do you see 
the face of God?

Ask to return,
perhaps through prayer,
to the days
that were true;
to see where God
has brought you.

Ask to be led,
perhaps through prayer,
to a new vision,
to seeing again;
to discover God
where you are.

Ask for inspiration,
perhaps through prayer,
as your life
flows forward;
to recognize
the gifts given by God.

©  2014  Richard Havenga

The Sand

The fog reaches
over the beaches.
The tide 
rises,
surprises;
to gnaw on the land,
resettle the sand.

©  2014  Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Neptune State Park,  (Neptune)  Oregon (Oregon State Parks) 

The Way

Do you often watch

the closing 
of the day?

The way 

trees

branch into silhouettes.

The way

mountains

thrust into evening sky.

The way

birds

wing into dusk.

The way

light

descends into darkness.

The way

color

melts into blackness.

The way 

sound

subsides into silence.

Can you hear
how quietly

it closes?

©  2014  Richard Havenga

Wyoming Summer

Flat as a table;
this field of sweet-scented sage.

Dense as a wall;
this forest of dark green spruce.

Light as a host of angels;
this collection of white cumulus.

Captivated as a curious child;
by this welcome Wyoming summer.

©  2014  Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Grand Teton National Park,  (Tetons)  Wyoming  (Wyoming)  

Shadows of Time

Time,
once measured in living years,
now engraved in granite.

The Christian symbol
set in stone
yesterday, today, tomorrow.

Under the steeple's 
golden cross,
families kneel in prayer.

Loved ones remembered,
from temporal lives,
before and after today.

Like shadows on the snow.

©  2014  Richard Havaenga

Photo Location:

St. Patrick Church  (St. Patrick) - Parnell,  Michigan  (Michigan)  

Dawn Blessing

this new day arrives

carrying dawn's pearly light

fresh blessing received

©  2014  Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Grand Teton National Park,  (Tetons) Wyoming (Wyoming)

The Circle

Winter's barren branches.

Versus summer's green boughs.

The various circumstances
the flow of seasons allows.

New life in the spring.

Then dying in the fall.

The endless circle of life carries
miraculous journeys for all.

©  2014  Richard Havenga

1. White Oak - Quercus alba - Kent County,  Michigan
2. Red Oaks - Quercus rubra - Wabasis Lake Park (Wabasis) - Kent County,  Michigan
3. Bur Oak - Quercus macrocarpa - Lowell,  (Lowell)  Michigan
4. White Pines - Pinus strobis -Lilley Lake,  Michigan
5. Flowering Dogwood - Cornus florida Ada, (Ada)  Michigan
6. Trembling Poplar/Quaking Aspen - Populus tremuloides - Kent County,  Michigan
7. Sugar Maple - Acer saccharum - Townsend Park, (Townsend) - Kent County,  Michigan
8. Red Oaks & Sugar Maples - Wabasis Lake Park, Kent County,  Michigan

Goldeneye

 Which field marks do like better?

That distinctive patch of white on his cheek? 
Or the fine black pin stripes making him look sleek?

The greenish-black head and neck of the male? 
Or the rusty-red helmet worn by the female?

The bright orange feet visible in flight? 
Or the spectacular eye catching the light?

Equally at home stroking upstream with webbed feet;

or zipping through blue sky on wings so fleet.

Gliding fast and low over the ice floe. 
Waiting for this long, cold winter to go.

Soon courting, then mating, and nesting, so; 
a few more little Goldeneyes will grow.




Common Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula


Photo Locations:

Pentwater River,  Pentwater,  (Pentwater)  Michigan (Michigan)

Sable River,  Ludington State Park,  (Ludington State Park)  Michigan

White on Blue

soon after take off
a short flight through paradise
thoughts of angel's wings 




Photo Location:  Corkscrew Woodlands,  Estero,  Florida  (Florida) 

Great Egret - Ardea alba