Friday, October 31, 2014

Yesterday





Walking in late October...
I read the invitation:

"Country roads, lined with gold.
Tree shadows underfoot.
Yellow leaves may brush your cheek.
Close your eyes when taking deep breath.


Your presence requested,
down these autumn lanes."
(Leave phone at home)

Yesterday's gone.
Tomorrow's plan?

© 2014 Richard Havenga






Photo Locations:

Canon Township, Kent County, Michigan




Thursday, October 30, 2014

The Promise III





Milkweed seeds
suspended
from fine, 
silvery threads.

Parachutes of promise
in an aerial dance
to a destination
unknown.




Unknown,
even by the wind
that carries
them.




The promise was made
for a chance
to live life,
to give life.




The opportunity
to accept,
and possibly
sacrifice.

©  2014  Richard Havenga



You may also enjoy:

The Promise - May 19, 2013

The Promise II - July 2, 2014


Photo Locations:

1. 2. & 5. Grand River Nature Area  (GRNA)  Ada/Cascade Townships,  Kent County,  Michigan

3. Lafayette, (Lafayette) Colorado

4. Cannonsburg State Game Area, (Cannonsburg) Kent County, Michigan


Monday, October 27, 2014

Harvest



Writing:

Within the small space of a page;
boundless curiosity.
Seeking insight and nourishment
through faith in a fragment.

Exploring the broad
landscape of your life.
Comfortable not knowing
where the words will take you.

Waiting for the journey
to reveal your true voice.
Confident the Spirit
will provide direction.

A gentle stirring
within my soul
focuses my feelings,
celebrates the senses.

Inspired by the
pleasure of discovery.
Harvesting the 
treasure of language.

Witnessing creation,
my daily desire.
Giving praise to God,
one of my daily needs.

Watching this poem
grow and mature,
hoping to
disperse its seeds.

~ Written ~

Friday, October 24, 2014

Fragments of Poetry 14





"When I rise up
let me rise up joyful
like a bird.




When I fall
let me fall without regret
like a leaf."




Excerpt from: "Prayers and Sayings of a Mad Farmer" 
- New Collected Poems by Wendell Berry  (Wendell Berry) p. 149  © 2012



You may also enjoy other "Fragments of Poetry" by:


William Stafford - December 16, 2012, and Mary Oliver - August 18, 2012



Photo Locations:

1. Wood Thrush - Home Woods

2. Sugar Maple leaf - Fallasburg Park  (Fallasburg) Page Creek , Kent County, Michigan

3. Silver Maple leaf - Grand River, (Grand) Kent County, Michigan (Michigan





Wednesday, October 22, 2014

In the Present



I'm taking my time,
entering the present,
allowing the nature
of my surroundings
to gather gently,
drift in slowly,
like the soft glow 
of restful luminosity.



I inhale deeply 
the favored scent
of Ponderosa Pine;
the bark and needles
warmed by afternoon sun.



Quieting myself,
the chorus of birdsong
becomes more noticeable;
amplifying the joy
inside my soul.



Like a silvery veil of rain
drifting over distant foothills,
and nourishing the pines,
I bathe in the shower of words
offered by the Holy Spirit.





I am moved by sight, scent, and sound,
and a sense of his presence within.


© 2014 Richard Havenga




Photo Locations:

1. & 4. Tin Cup, Colorado (Colorado)

2. Rocky Mountain National Park, (RMNP) Colorado

3. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan (Michigan)




Monday, October 20, 2014

Before and After III


This is the third edition of "Before and After". 

Please enjoy this Botanical sequence of events, brought to you by "Father Nature". I also encourage you to get outside, in all of our beautiful seasons, to make your own discoveries. Perhaps you will be surprised here, as you view this series from flower to fruit. 




Jack-in-the-Pulpit







Sensitive Fern


fertile fern fronds - spore stalks



Swamp Rose

Swamp Rose - Hips




You may also like: 

Before and After II - June 5, 2014

Before and After - January 30, 2014





1. Jack-in-the-pulpit - (Arisaema atrorubens) - Home Woods

2. Sensitive Fern - (Onoclea sensibilis) - Home Woods

3. Swamp Rose - (Rosa palustris) - Gavin Lake,  Kent County,  Michigan






Saturday, October 18, 2014

American Beech View


Very soon, in Michigan, and around the midwest, my all-time favorite deciduous tree, the American Beech will be displaying its spectacular sequence of color changes. I hope you can find time to witness these changes in a woods near you. If not, these leaves are for your view:




green leaves fade into yellow 


yellow with green veins



yellow with green veins, brown edges beginning


brown with yellow veins



striking striations of yellow veins on brown



aging, yet still clinging to twigs


lingering in late autumn - a coppery sheen


Thank you for spending time with "Father Nature". Try to get outside soon, and often to discover the changes in these amazing American Beech leaves for yourself

Gratefully,

~ Richard Havenga ~

You may also enjoy previous posts about the American Beech:

"Holding Life" — June 1, 2012

"grandifolia" — October 18, 2012 (exactly two years ago today)


Photo Locations: Home Woods

American Beech - Fagus grandifolia


Thursday, October 16, 2014

Sky Stream





A liquid blue sky carries 
swirling white clouds
into red and yellow leaves
merging, 
collecting, reflecting
this gift 
for my eyes to uplift.

Squinting
to receive this gift
reflected from above;
this liquid sky, 
this leaf stream,
this life stream,
this sky stream.

© 2014 Richard Havenga


Photo Location


Bear Creek - Townsend Park - Kent County, Michigan 


Monday, October 13, 2014

Floating on a Mirror





This dry, wrinkled leaf
fell from its summer home.
Placed with perfection
by a carrying breeze.

Now it glides slowly 
down the smooth surface,
making a statement,
reflecting itself.

Its crisp sail
catching a breath.
The river's current 
steady, purposeful.

This golden leaf,
floating on a mirror,
ready for change,
accepting its destiny.

Willingly riding
the wind 
and water
with grace.


©  2014  Richard Havenga






Photo Location:  Grand River,  (Grand River) Kent County,  Michigan (Michigan





Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Saturday Morning Backroads II



This is the second edition of "Saturday Morning Backroads". All of these photographs were taken within four miles of my home, near Cannonsburg, Michigan. 
Sit back and enjoy the views. 
Then, prepare for your own departure. 




Egypt Valley State Game Area - Biking anyone?




Silver Maple — turned scarlet.





Wild Grapes



Mute Swans with Cygnets



Virginia Creeper — Climbing Walnut Trees



Turkey Vultures circling Murray Lake



Parnell Pastoral



Wood Ducks



Cannonsburg pond in the rain.



You may also enjoy the first edition of "Saturday Morning Backroads" from June 12, 2012.



Monday, October 6, 2014

Fragments of Poetry - 13




"Watching the black grackle
come out of the gray shade
into the sun, I am dazzled
by an unsuspected sheen,
yellow, purple, and green,
where the comb of light silkens
unspectacular wings--"

"A Grackle Observed" Alive Together - New and Selected Poems by Lisel Mueller © 1996 (Mueller)

Click on "Fragments of Poetry" in my "TOPICS" section to read other poets. 

Or, click on these most recent "Fragments of Poetry" dates:

Fragments of Poetry 12: February 28, 2014 
Fragments of Poetry 11: January 13, 2014 
Fragments of Poetry 10: September 19, 2013 
Fragments of Poetry  9: May 13, 2013 


CLICK on photo to enlarge.

Boat-tailed Grackle - Quiscalus major

Photo Location:  Lakes Park, Fort Myers,  (Fort Myers) Florida (Florida




Friday, October 3, 2014

The Summons




There are special places
along my favorite rivers,
whether slow and placid,


or rushing and rapid,
where the Spirit within
is summoned
in that quiet voice
just above the conscious level,
along the soft fringe
of awareness. 
©  2014  Richard Havenga





CLICK on photos to enlarge.

Photo Locations:

1. Grand River - Kent County, Michigan (Michigan)

2. Blackfoot River - Missoula, Montana (Montana

3. Rock River - Dixon, Illinois