After six days of overcast,
it's restorative to see
the blue dome of sky
emerging from the gray,
and dripping with sunlight.
Sunlight that sparkles
from rounded raindrops
that cling to the undersides
of yellow Sugar Maple leaves
gathered on the ground.
Raindrops that magnify
the prominent veins
that once brought life
to the leaves when
they were green.
© 2021 Richard Havenga
Photo Location:
1. 2. & 3. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan
manifesting their
autumn masculinity.
Can you name
all these October colors
as you pick out
some Indian corn,
and your potted plants,
while wearing your flannel shirt?
As you drive
the country roads
to the farm market
to have your cider and donuts,
to pick out your pumpkins?
Are the roadsides
meeting your autumn expectations
for vibrancy and artistry?
Are you stopping the car
to walk these narrow roads
splashed with red-yellow-orange?
© 2021 Richard Havenga
In honor of Lillian Havenga's Birthday ~ 10-22-22 > 9-2-21
You built your nest
strong and secure,
and placed four eggs
into a woven
basket of hope.
Ready to nurture
the invisible future.
You have recently flown away,
above the clouded blue sky,
and entered Heaven's bright glory.
Your descendants
have grown and matured,
and now carry on
your legacy of kindness.
And have themselves
built nests of hope
where their fledglings
will either grow and thrive,
or die too young.
© 2021 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan
3. Pickerel Lake Park / Fred Meijer Nature Preserve - Kent County - Michigan
The wind,
growing in the needles
of the White Pine,
amplifies its voice
from a whisper
to a song.
A canticle carried
softly into my mind
on invisible currents.
A woodwind section
playing ambiance
in the upper branches.
© 2021 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. & 2. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan
2. Home Woods - Kent County - Michigan
Within the chaos
of moving branches,
autumn leaves are
stirring in the canopy.
Sounding like
dangling conversations
with meaning
slowly waning.
Some begin to fall.
Others will cling
to their twigs
for a few more days.
Eventually,
all will cooperate
and accumulate
on the floor of the woods
to find a new purpose.
© 2021 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Cannonsburg State Game Area - Kent County - Michigan
2. Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan
3. & 5. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan
4. Fallasburg Park - Kent County _ Michigan
6. Vergennes Township - Kent County - Michigan
The moon borrowed
light from the sun
and shared a small slice
that night at the campsite.
It floated on the lake;
a band of yellow gold,
and approached us on ripples.
Somewhat hesitant;
moving closer,
always nearing,
but not arriving
on the quiet shore.
Anticipation
versus
Realization.
© 2021 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. & 2. Crooked Lake - Kent County - Michigan
This afternoon's air is stagnant,
and the sky is milky white,
rather indifferent to change.
Yesterday's sky was brilliant blue,
and great cumulus flourished
with distinct definition,
exuberant in their growth.
Yesterday, golden drops of sunlight
penetrated layers of leaves
aging with autumn.
Tomorrow, I will welcome
the forecast of rain.
Although it will strip
more color from the woods,
it will also saturate the soil,
replenish the wetlands,
restore my soul.
© 2021 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Home Sky - Cannonsburg, Michigan
2. Pickerel Lake Park / Fred Meijer Nature Preserve - Kent County - Michigan
5. Home Wetland - Cannonsburg, Michigan
A soft fabric of fog
lingers over the lake.
A hush hanging
in the atmosphere.
An absence of sound,
until...
A line of Canada Geese
breaks the silence
because they now see me
standing on the dock.
As the fog slowly lifts,
the geese gabble
to each other.
Louder by the minute.
Faster by the minute.
A commotion of sound,
until...
They lift above
the thinning veil of fog,
gather in a loose formation,
and fly into the faint morning breeze,
seeking a larger lake
to swim in the shallows
and feed
undisturbed.
© 2021 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. 2. 3. 4. & 5. McCarthy Lake - Grattan Township -Kent County - Michigan
6. & 7. Pickerel Lake Park - Fred Meijer Nature Preserve - Kent County - Michigan
An arching willow branch
dangles in the Thornapple River,
dancing with the current.
Resistance meets persistence.
The dance goes on...
lasts for three seasons.
Then the ice comes.
The music stops.
© 2021 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
Leslie Tassell Park - Cascade Township - Kent County -
Grand River - Kent County - Michigan
