tucked in the tundra

short flowers
tucked in the tundra
shivering in the sunlight
wavering in the wind
summering at 45°.

© 2015 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Snowy Range Pass - Medicine Bow National Forest - Wyoming

2 & 3. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado 

Wildflowers:

1. Glacier Lily - Erythronium grandiflorum

2. Alpine Sunflower - Hymenoxys grandiflora ( Rydbergia grandiflora)

River's Edge

In the evening he stands;
stands still
as a pewter sculpture,
in stagnant water that's
covered with a living coat
of green duckweed.

In the morning, he wades;
wades the wide river's edge,
yellow eyes intense, alert,
feet frozen in time.

Within any unpredictable second,
his sharp, bold beak
could plunge
into dark water
like an orange spear.

Instant death
for a suspended fish.

Necessary meal
for a patient heron.

© 2015 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Eagle Lakes Park - Naples, Florida

2. Ada Township - Kent County, Michigan

3. & 4. Rogue River - Rockford, Michigan

5. McCarthy Lake - Grattan Township, Michigan


Click on photos to enlarge.

Short Summer

Within this short, summer season,
withstanding relentless winds,
alpine wildflowers thrive
in these rugged 
Rocky Mountains.

High above the treeline,
under intense sunshine,
clinging to thin tundra soil,
they will survive
in their short,
sweet 
time. 

© 2015 Richard Havenga

♪♪ We will get by, ... we will get by, we will survive...♪♪ 

"Touch of Gray" ~ Grateful Dead

Photo Locations:

1, 2, 3. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado

4. Medicine Bow National Forest - Wyoming

Embracing Summer

cumulo-stratus
boats in the sky

windless afternoon
leaves unmoving

cicadas' buzz electric
in mid-August heat

gifts of water lilies
sprawl over lake's edge

this hoped-for day
bathed in white light

embracing the summer
that you longed for

© 2015 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Grattan Township, Kent County, Michigan 

2. Pickerel Lake Park - Fred Meijer Nature Preserve - Kent County, Michigan

3. Sioux Falls, South Dakota 

Sarah's First Poem

The river is floating by
near the willow tree's end,
where the branches 
are speaking hello. 

© 1979 Sarah Havenga

Composed by Sarah Havenga ~ August 10, 1979  (5 years old)

Written by Sarah Havenga by the North Branch - Pentwater River - Pentwater, Michigan

Taken from the  Journal of Richard Havenga ~ August, 1979

This Day, This Way

This day,
this moment,
in this place;
has never happened before,
and never will again,
in this particular way.

This butterfly alighting
and brightening the meadow.

This damselfly's
presence and iridescence.

The sublime design
on this moth's wings.

The firefly lifting, drifting,
and disappearing. 

Nature's rhythms 
released.

God's blessings 
increased.

This day, 
this invitation
to stay, and 
give back 
the quiet gift
of gratitude.

This way.

2015 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Pink-edged Sulphur - Colias pelidne - Townsend Park - Kent County, Michigan

2. Black-winged Damselfly - Calopteryx maculata - Fallasburg Park - Kent County, Michigan

3. Leconte's Haploa - Haploa lecontei - Lowell Township - Kent County, Michigan

generosity

In loving memory of Richard J. Havenga & Peter Draugalis Sr.


The lake hides its generosity
beneath its reflection;
just like my father,
whose generosity 
was hidden
below the surface.

Left: my Grandfather - Peter Draugalis Sr.  Right: my Father - Richard John Havenga

In the 1950's,
we're sitting 
in his plywood fishing boat.
I can still see
my boyhood face
reflected in his lenses.
"Here, try my sunglasses,
you can see fish down there."

Sure enough,
chunky bluegills
slowly fanning their fins
among the vertical weeds.
A Largemouth Bass, 
suspended and motionless 
above the drop-off,
predator eyes silently surveying
the watery kingdom.  

My father,
with fisherman's eyes
surveys the contents
of the tackle box.
"Here, try this lure,
it always worked
for your grandpa."

Stretching his meaty, muscled hand
over the center seat of the boat,
he hands me the lure;
a wooden flatfish,
pale green, made in the 40's. 

On the oars: My Grandfather. On the 6 HP Elgin: My Father

I reach back,
meeting him halfway,
stretching out my small fingers,
cautious of the treble hooks
dangling down.

Anticipation
blessing the space
between us.

Generosity
filling the hours,
rising to the surface.

© 2015 Richard Havenga

Richard Havenga ("Dickie" @ 7 years old) with "Jumbo Perch" (14") July, 1955 

Photo Info:

1. left: Peter Draugalis Sr. - my Grandfather, right: Richard John Havenga - my Father

2. Richard L. Havenga  ("Dickie") - age 7 

► Photos courtesy of Lillian (Draugalis) Havenga -  my Mother © July, 1955