Answers

 

When God asks:

"What did you do

with the gifts

you were given?"

How will you answer?

Will you have a

relevant  response prepared?

Will gratitude for

the joy of birdsong

in the spring

be included?

Or the intriguing sound 

of water trickling under 

the surreal patterns 

of paper-thin ice 

on a winter stream?

Did you take some time

to gasp in awe

at the spectacular sunrises

that brightened your many mornings?

Were you mesmerized  

by the absolute silence

of a dark night

while under the domed ceiling

of ancient stars?

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Cannonsburg State Game Area - Kent County - Michigan

2. Bear Creek - Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

3. Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming

4. SaddleBrooke, Arizona

Canopy

 

High in the canopy

of our large Red Oaks,

eager buds are swelling

against the afternoon sky.

It's still easy to catch

the movement of birds

while the branches remain naked;

before the buds burst into leaves.

Today loyal chickadees and nuthatches

move with purpose, having

survived another winter

in their known territory.

Soon a wall of spring greens

will obscure birds' movements, and

we will squint and search with binoculars,

searching for our favorites.

Hoping to find the migrating warblers;

that dependable display in May,

flitting fast in a feeding frenzy,

before flying farther north to nest.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. - 5. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

6. Prothonotary Warbler - Yankee Springs Recreation Area / Gun Lake State Park

Pewter

 

On this particularly

pearl morning,

a pewter sky

will try to dim the sun, 

shroud the mountains, and 

diminish the distant trees

just beginning to display 

their spring pastels. 

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming

2. Vergennes Township - Kent County - Michigan

Inhale

 

That distinctive aroma

in the April atmosphere

when a warm spring rain

first dampens the thirsty soil.

Inhale.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Del Norte, Colorado

Water Ceiling

 

Under the dark silk

of water in this wetland,

fat-headed tadpoles are

wriggling in their aquatic jungle.

Pushing with broad, slippery tails

through layers of old, wet leaves.

Watching with tiny black eyes.

Settling into the soft silt.

Are they vegetarian;

do they like to eat that 

bright green duckweed?

Or do they prefer the

more meaty

aquatic invertebrates?

I hold you briefly in the air;

can see you are stunned in

this foreign atmosphere.

Waiting for four legs

to sprout and grow;

for lungs to breathe

the free air 

above the 

ceiling of water.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. 2. 3. & 4. Home Woods Wetland - Cannonsburg, Michigan

 

curvature

 

love this blue planet

the curvature of the earth

my Lake Michigan

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Empire, Michigan

April Warming

 

An overnight chill

silenced the Spring Peepers.

Perhaps tomorrow

the chorus will return,

and the early Trout Lilies

will unfurl, uncurl  next week,

followed by Bloodroot

breaking through organic debris,

and wrapped in their own leaves.

as the soft soil of the woods

slowly warms with April.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. 2. 3. 4. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

1. & 2. Trout Lily

3. & 4. Bloodroot

Drink the Air

The mellow melody

from the mouth

of the meadowlark

rolls across the fields.

A banner of song

curling in the wind.

It targets my listening,

enters my heart,

amplifies my awareness,

enhances my gratitude,

sings to my soul.

Makes the world

a better place.

Makes me want to

drink the air.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. Marvel, Colorado

3. Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area - McNeal, Arizona

synchronized

 

banked turn to the left

precision maneuvering

this synchronized flight

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

  Black-necked Stilt ~ Eagle Lakes Community Park - Naples, Florida