last light

in late November

last leaves collect the last light

brief glow in tree tops

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

Golden Collection

 

In late November,

when all the leaves have fallen,

the Weeping Willow

retains possession

of its golden collection;

narrow, tapered fingers

pointing at their future

among the others

on the cold, hard ground. 

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations: McCarthy Lake - Kent County - Michigan

Small Herds of Horses

 

From afar,

I have always loved

small herds of horses,

and the mountain meadow

pastures where they live

with apparent contentment.

These large, beautiful animals,

grazing in the grass,

in the shadow of mountains.

I can sense

a peaceful, easy feeling

of intimacy with the land.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming

3. Cut Bank, Montana

 

Trespassing II

 

I was walking 

through the piney woods,

absorbing the view

between the trees,

when I suddenly spotted

a Barred Owl,

the color of pine bark.

Perfectly camouflaged

among the branches.

He stared at me so intently

with his shiny black eyes.

I froze in my place,

held my breath,

tried not to blink.

Could not look away.

I felt embarrassed for 

my clumsy invasion,

intruding on his privacy,

trespassing in his domain.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy: "Trespassing" ~ August 27, 2025

Photo Locations:

1. Seidman Park - Kent County - Michigan

2. Juvenile Barred Owl - Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

My Friend the Moon

 

The moon is like a living thing.

I give it much more attention

than the average human being.

It travels across the night sky,

and sometimes lingers in the daylight.

Appearing and disappearing.

Growing and shrinking.

Waxing and waning.

I anticipate her fullness,

rising after the sun has set.

I eagerly seek 

her first new crescent;

a sliver of silver,

and miss her when she's hidden

behind the overcast.

I photograph her in all her moods,

and write poems about her.

My friend the moon.

Worthy of reflection.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Home Sky - Kent County -  Michigan

2. North Fort Myers, Florida

3. SaddleBrooke, Arizona

4. Crooked Lake - Kent County - Michigan

5. Vero Beach, Florida

6. Home Sky - Kent County - Michigan

7. Bozeman, Montana 

brittle

 

brittle leaves hang down

wall of cornstalks stand rigid

ready for harvest

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

melancholy days

 

melancholy days

sadness accumulating

in the fallen leaves

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

2. Fremont, Michigan

Ear Buds

 

I never have,

nor will I ever start,

to use headphones,

ear buds, etcetera,

when I'm running outdoors.

I prefer to hear

the music of nature

along quiet country roads.

Songs from the Indigo Bunting,

Scarlet Tanager, Yellow Warbler,

or a distant Eastern Meadowlark.

A fall flock of Canada Geese.

An ambitious wind in the trees.

The rising rapids in rivers. 

Rigorous waves on Lake Michigan.

All sounds superior,

to my favorite symphonies

by Haydn or Beethoven.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Indigo Bunting - Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

2. Scarlet Tanager - Home Woods - Kent County - Michigan

3. Yellow Warbler - Home Woods - Kent County - Michigan

4. Canada Geese - Saul Lake Bog - Kent County - Michigan

5. Grand Haven State Park - Michigan

Outdoor Ballet

 

Here it comes again;

the annual autumn

medley of leaves.

All the talk is about the colors,

the intensity, the "peak week",

where to drive or walk

for the perfect peek.

Or simply watching

these golden slippers;

a gathering of grace

as they flutter-fall to earth.

A short-lived display.

An outdoor ballet.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

2. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

3. Ada Township - Kent County - Michigan

4. East Grand Rapids, Michigan

 

Moving Meditation

 

Hiking in these mountains

is like moving meditation.

The small sound

of boots on stony ground.

Golden aspen leaves

fluttering in a light breeze

become a soft orchestra 

in the background.

High in the cloudless sky,

a Red-tailed Hawk

pierces the moment

with its captivating cry.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Ouray, Colorado

2. Ridgway, Colorado

3. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado

Full Release

 

In September,

especially if it's been dry,

trees lose their leaves

singly, and casually.

But by mid-October

it becomes full release.

A massive display,

an elegant ballet

of twists and turns.

Colored leaves

sifting through branches.

Falling gracefully

through cool autumn air.

I imagine each leaf

a moving prayer.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Tiffany Avenue - Kent County - Michigan

2. Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

3. Home Trees - Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

 

Ready

 

I am eager to discover,

in the heavenly realm,

the mysteries experienced in this world

during our human existence. 

Will we understand then

what we cannot comprehend now?

The miracles of creation on earth?

Our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit?

When all is finally revealed,

the joy will be overwhelming.

I am ready.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Grand River - Grand Rapids, Michigan

2. Santa Catalina Mountains - Oro Valley, Arizona

3. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

Down the Line

Back in the days

when I was running longer miles,

I remember an American Kestrel

perched on a wire above

the gravel road I was on.

As I ran closer,

he lifted up effortlessly

on blue-gray wings

contrasting with his bronze back,

and flew farther down the line,

perhaps four hundred yards.

When I caught up to him,

he went airborne again,

his tail flared like a fan,

continued three hundred yards

down the line,

and perched on the wire.

I felt bad that I was

disrupting his hunting, and

searching for prey in the short grass

along this country road.

Finally, the Kestrel hovered

briefly, before returning,

back to his original perch.

Free again from disruptions.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations: Marco Island, Florida

 

rsvp

 

My God sends me

frequent invitations

to open the door

and go outside.

I always rsvp, and bring along,

as the invitation requests,

the gift of my senses;

my awareness and appreciation

of his awesome creation.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Ada Township - Kent County - Michigan

2. Creede, Colorado

summer dunes

 

shadows of grasses

dancing on warm summer dunes

choreography

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Whitefish Point - Upper Peninsula - Michigan

Through the Valley

 

When the burning tears

of extreme grief

fall from our blurry eyes,

God's kind mercy

will carry us

through the valley,

beyond the shadows,

and after an appointed

period of time,

into the warm light

of healing compassion.

We do not walk alone.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Saguache, Colorado

2. Taylor River Reservoir - Colorado

Cottonwoods

 

Leaving the hardwood forests

of my native Michigan,

I curl under the curve

of Lake Michigan on the map.

After enduring Chicago traffic,

I drive past the lush and productuve

soybean and corn fields

of northern Illinois and Iowa,

then the land opens up before me

in the near western plains.

The flat, Platte River weaves

its shallow course through Nebraska.

Large, durable Cottonwoods,

toughened by less rainfall,

line the river's banks;

their broad, brittle leaves

clatter in the wind.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. 2. & 3. North Platte, Nebraska

Autumn Gold Attitude

 

You are that leaf

freshly fallen

onto the small stream.

Floating first on smooth water,

then riding the ripples

above a bed of pebbles,

then over rocks

and rising rapids

to be churned and turned

and twisted underwater.

At last settling

near a sidebank

in a festival of colors

where your

autumn gold attitude

still reflects the sun.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Grand River - Knapp Street Bridge - Kent County, Michigan

2. Page Creek - Fallasburg Park - Kent County - Michigan

3. Bear Creek - Townsend Park - Kent County - Michiagn