ornaments

For George Wright - Orchardist

apple ornaments

forgotten in the orchard

fruit for hungry deer

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations: Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan  

Reaching for the Moon

An ornamental moon
emerges yellow from the lake;
grows white 
as it climbs the trees.

I stand alone
on the shore
as dusk wraps around 
my shoulders.

A band of rippled moonlight
captures my gaze,
embraces my emotions,
touches my soul.

I reach out
to contact the creator.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy: "Moon's Desire" ~ August 6, 2018

Photo Location: Crooked Lake - Kent County - Michigan

This Interval of Now

A weeping willow
persists deep into November
listens to the cooling winds.

I watch the autumn breeze
weave slender twigs
into golden braids.

Although I feel time 
pulling me along,
I prefer to inhabit
this interval of now.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy: 

"Lingering" ~ November 16, 2012

"Translation" ~ April 15, 2013

Photo Locations:

1. McCarthy Lake - Kent County, Michigan 

2. Crooked Lake - Kent County, Michigan  

Tabernash

With gratitude to John D'Amico

How many hundreds
of thousands
of dark green spires 
of Lodgepole Pines
needle the sky
in this broad basin?

Highlighted by November snows,
they clothe the rising foothills,
stand perfectly vertical
on steepening slopes,
climb to the timberline
on North Arapaho Peak,
withstand winter winds,
remain ever
green.

Serve as models of perseverance
as we bend under life's strains,
lean into biting winds,
fade from once colorful selves. 

Yielding to the years,
weathering with grace,
faithful to the end.

Tapering, arrow straight
pointing to heaven
everlasting.

A thousand thousand
points of praise.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. 2. 3. - Tabernash, Colorado

Mozart

"When I am, as it were, 
completely by myself,
entirely alone, and of good cheer...
it is on such occasions that ideas
flow best and most abundantly." 

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)

Photo Locations: 

American Avocet

1. Gilbert Water Ranch - Arizona

2. Mono Lake - California

The Smuggler

I have detected winter
being secretly smuggled in;

fringed on the edge of leaves,

collecting in low-lying fields 
as fingers of frost,
filigreed on arching grasses.

We all knew it was coming,
so we allowed the smuggler
deeper penetration
into our lives.

Putting on our clothes
of protection...

accepting the present...

dreaming of the future.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations: Townsend Park

Silver the Wetlands

Late into autumn,

after the hard frosts,

dark brown cattails

silver the wetlands.

Seeds as light as air,

prepared for flight,

on the next breathe

of November wind.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations: 

Rogue River - Rockford, Michigan

Cradle the Clouds

Rolling fields of ripened corn
cradle the clouds of autumn.

A brief burst of morning sunshine
illuminates the horizon of trees.

A dark gray cloud ceiling
contrasts this ripening season.

Long leaves of field corn
wave their brittle arms.

The cold present blows
away the warm past.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

1. On the Kent County / Ionia County line - Michigan

2. Lowell Township - Kent County, Michigan

slow dancing

Loose columns of vapor;
ephemeral silver spirits
in translucent gowns,
slow dancing to 
autumn music. 

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Mc Carthy Lake - Grattan Township - Kent County- Michigan