Under this dome of blue sky,
splashed with clouds of white,
a long strip of sand and
a vast expanse of ocean in sight.
A palette of blues playing
with shadows and light.
Filling me with
inexpressible delight.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Sunset Beach, North Carolina
2. & 3. Vero Beach, Florida
Standing firmly
on the sand dunes
above Lake Michigan,
I'm intrigued, again, to view
the barely perceptible
curvature of the earth.
Contemplating the infinite horizon
where water meets the sky
at the edge of time.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Location:
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Empire, Michigan
A mid-August rain
soaks the thirsty soil.
Signs its signature by
churning the lake's surface.
Listen to it hissing, swishing.
Water splashing water.
Rain softening the earth.
Earth sighing and soothed.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Pickerel Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan
2. Murray Lake - Kent County - Michigan
3. Villa Grove, Colorado
I'm walking
in the welcome shade of August
along this quiet country road.
Dense clusters
of Common Orange Daylilies
flourish in the heat;
one new bloom each day
on each plant stem.
A late summer orchestra
of orange trumpets flaring
at the top of each stalk.
An abundance of ordinary
at the side of the road,
ready for your investigation,
worthy of your appreciation.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
Home Road - Cannonsburg, Michigan
a wedge of warm wind
whispers through the cottonwoods
settles to silence
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
Broken Bow, Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway ~ Nebraska
When the Canyon Wren
hurls its song into the air,
in the echoing space
between sandstone walls,
it sounds like a prayer,
a praise song,
a blessing heard
but not seen.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations: Garden of the Gods Park - Colorado Springs, Colorado
Writing free verse poetry
is mostly about finding
the preferred word,
and avoiding the rhyme
most of the time.
Sometimes it works out,
but when you're about
to end a line, another word
enters your surprised mind.
So I just go with the flow
and let the poem grow,
knowing that soon
I'll have to prune.
Or start all over again,
and trace where I've been.
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Amen.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. White Sands National Park, New Mexico
2. Home Garden
3. Home Library - Cannonsburg, Michigan
I'm here again,
in the heat of summer,
to give commendation
to the commonplace;
Chicory and Queen Anne's Lace.
Which beautify the borders
of these slow country roads
in July and August
around my place.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations: Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan
I believe in the power of words
to awaken our slumbering souls.
The inexpressible joy
at the birth of your child.
The shattering, shocking blow
at the tragic loss of your child.
The depth of desire
in a sincere, meaningful love.
The loyal contentment
of a trustworthy marriage.
The dependable certainty
from a reliable faith.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Shadows of twilight
smothered the foothills,
climbed the mountain heights.
Last spears of sunlight
pierced thickening clouds,
then surrendered to the night.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations: Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Sometimes, my poems
rise softly, subtly,
like the slow approach
of a summer dawn.
Frequently, they fly about
erratically, sporadically,
like Little Brown Bats
darting and diving during dusk.
Occasionally, the words
may illuminate the lines
like early morning light
on jeweled prisms of dew.
Always, know that
I share my offerings
with humble gratitude
that you are here.
Indelibly, the best gift
to the writer
is the presence
of a gracious reader.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Have you allowed time
to blossom in your memories?
Recalling the precious moments
when you felt alive and real?
Bringing your quiet past
into a shared life of joy.
Writing poems can do this.
In the gardens of your mind.
The words are always arriving,
ready to bloom.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Location: Luton Park - Rockford, Michigan
(Orange Butterflyweed)
Through the smallest
parts of creation,
God reaches out to you.
When you reach down to touch
the soft petals of a flower
that is just opening,
you are showing gratitude
for these simple gifts
and touching the hand of God.
Nature's beauty is not essential.
It is grace, amplified
by the Creator.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Lafayette, Colorado
2. Home Garden - Cannonsburg, Michigan
I have removed the obstacles.
Tossed aside the branches and sticks.
Raked away the fallen debris.
And now the trail is smooth for you.
Won't you please enter my poet trees?
The words are clear and accessible.
The light shimmers through the trees.
An inviting path of discovery;
a gift for you,
from me.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Ohio Creek Pass - Crested Butte, Colorado
2. Snake River Overlook - Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming
I'm perfectly content, at least satisfied,
to let the inexplicable mysteries of nature
remain mysterious, unresolved.
Not every thing, or process, or event
can be transcribed into language,
and understood using mere words.
To acknowledge beauty,
to cultivate awareness,
to believe in miracles.
That is enough for me.
The transformative power
of paying attention;
that is contentment,
that is enough.
To approach the divine
is more than enough.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Location: Pacific Ocean - La Jolla, California
In the quiet stillness
of this summer morning,
pearls of dew are cradled
in arching blades of grass.
No breath of breeze
will roll them from their nest.
Only the climbing sun
and passing time
will make these
morning jewels disappear.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. & 2. Home Fields - Cannonsburg, Michigan
Tucked under dark green leaves,
laying on their bed of straw,
warm June sunshine
ripens bright red berries.
Sweet, juicy and lucious.
Easy to pick with your fingers.
Delicious to taste with your tongue.
Sweet summer strawberries.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Location: Kent County - Michigan
The congregation of devoted Christians
filled this historic church.
They sang with exuberant voices,
exalting His name with praise.
Their passionate faith was unmistakeable
by any visitors who sat in the pews.
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The majestic steeple of St. Patrick's
transported our praise and our prayers
through the blue vault of the sky
toward their heavenly destination.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Location: St. Patrick's Catholic Church ~ Parnell, Michigan
You may also enjoy:
"The Bells of St. Patrick's" - May 14, 2015
"The Steps of St. Patrick's" - November 6, 2017
"The Windows of St. Patrick's" - September 17, 2018
Resilient reeds rise
from the silky water
of evening.
Contours of
cream-colored clouds
undulate on the surface.
Floating reflections
stroking the
wavering reeds.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Location: Pickerel Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan
Here;
under the magnificent dome
of a sky-blue sky.
Here, where the slightly curved horizon
meets the broad sweep of ocean.
I admire bands of blue;
aquamarine watercolors
changing by the hour.
Sweeping toward
the shore I'm standing on.
Blessed and grateful
to be present here.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
After wading thigh-deep in the gulf,
screening the bottom sand for shells,
I angle back into the shore
to show you my best
treasure of the day,
to be added to my collection.
Then I offer you a salty kiss.
A shared treasure.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Sanibel Island, Florida
2. North Fort Myers, Florida
Across this broad field of sage,
a Western Meadowlark is perched;
on a fencepost, on a barbed wire.
From this distance
I can barely make out
his sunrise-yellow breast
with the black tie
pointing down his neck.
I delight in his melodious call,
streaming over the plains;
a long banner of song
curling into the warm wind.
This gift of music,
given by the meadowlark,
received with gratitude.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations: Hesperus, Colorado
