The Poetry of Water

 

It's difficult to translate

the meaning of words

the mountain stream carries

as it hurries through the canyon;

bashing big boulders,

splashing through the rapids.

Elsewhere, the poetry of water slows

and swirls into clear pools;

transparent with nuance,

tranquil with meaning.

I kneel for a closer look.

Fine grasses and golden sky light 

reflect on the smooth surface.

Through the clear lens of water

I examine the bottom of the pool

and read in the rippled sand

the words collected there:

Slow down. Be still.

Observe the smallest

contours of creation.

But this poem 

does not end

here.

© 2026 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado

2. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado

3. Santa Catalina Mountains - Arizona

 

 

Talking Waters

 

He sat on a log

on the gravelly bank

of the mountain stream,

in quiet contemplation.

Listening to the talking waters.

Studying the current

roll over rocks,

bend around boulders.

Until it flowed

into writing

that pleased

his soul.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Taylor River - Almont, Colorado

2. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado

God's Voice

 

God speaks to me without words:

In the spectacular inflorescence

of dependable, seasonal wildflowers.

The mist blowing off

the crest of ocean waves.

Through the sweet songs of birds

unraveled effortlessly.

The music playing in the rapids

of a rushing mountain stream.

The atmospheric light

dancing with sky, clouds and rain.

Beauty in nature is not essential, 

it's God's voice within gifts of creation.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

2. Sanibel Island - Florida

3. Cannonsburg State Game Area - Kent County - Michigan

4. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado

5. Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming

Belonging

 

He loved to walk

along mountain streams;

upstream.

And stop often

to sit on a boulder

and listen to the water rush.

And to watch

the bold current splash

against pure light.

To look upstream

at the future

coming at him.

Or look downstream

at the past

beyond change.

Sometimes he would gather

flat, rounded rocks

to build a cairn.

His mind concentrated

on structural design,

balance and stability.

It all brought real comfort

and genuine contentment

to his mountain soul.

This is where he belonged.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado

More

 

May your one singular life become more fruitful

than you ever thought possible.

May you regain the curiosity

you once held as a child.

You may be awakened by exuberant

birdsong in early spring.

You may hear the song of the river

and translate its meaning in your soul.

May you hear Sunday morning church bells

resound across farmers' fall fields.

May you feel the profound silence

of the night sky in winter.

You may find the Spirit inside you,

or reaching out to find you.

May you find more blessings

than you ever thought possible.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Blok Orchard - Kent County - Michigan

2. Home Woods/Wetland - Cannonsburg, Michigan

3. Cannonsburg State Game Area - Kent County - Michigan

4. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado

5. Inside the Steeple - St. Patrick Church - Parnell, Michigan

6. Luton Park - Rockford, Michigan 

Reluctant Poem

In the beginning,
this poem exhibited some reluctance
to cooperate (as you can see);
or even to ride along with me
at least until the next bridge
where we could have crossed it together
if we had gotten to it
in my pretty red truck.

But I stopped before the bridge,
got out, and began walking downstream
through this fine mountain valley.

Alone.

After I made it around the first bend,
I thought I heard the poem approaching;
sensed it getting closer to my brain,
perhaps changing its attitude.

Then, as I stopped, and looked back upstream,

there it was, indicating a desire to come along.
As it came closer, shyly at first,
I reached out to pat its shoulder. 

It gave me a little nudge.

The poem now became gracious 
in my presence;

and began pointing out a few things I might have missed:

Like the way the stream collected

the big sky and trees,

and returned these reflections for me to reflect on.

Like the sound of the current

that tumbled over and around
huge, smooth boulders.

It even called attention 
to the satisfied sound

of my own breathing,
as I inhaled the essence
of Ponderosa Pines.

I sat down in the pine-needled sunlight
to further absorb this pleasant landscape,

and hopefully become better acquainted

with this poem, and its intentions; 
but as I looked around,

it was gone. Just like that.

And long lines of words 
evaporated into the big sky. 

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. St. Ignace, Michigan

2. Buena Vista, Colorado

3. Bayfield, Colorado

4. Blackfoot River - Missoula, Montana

5. Bear Creek - Townsend Park - Kent County, Michigan

6. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado

7. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado

8. Hamilton, Montana

9. South Dakota  

Stream Songs

 

Last September, I was blessed

to be listening to the song 

of mountain streams. 

They like to sing all day,

and through the night

when I've gone away.

Sometimes it sounds

like a memory of all

that has passed.

Other times

it's like a prayer

for all that is to come.

I will keep listening,

and remembering,

and praying,

that someday I may live 

near mountain streams,

and listen to their mountain songs.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. South Fork ~ Payette River - Idaho

3. Blackfoot River - Missoula, Montana

4. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado

Receptacle II

Please fashion me 
into a receptacle
for your grace.

And fill me
with a greater awareness
of your magnificent creation,

so that I may share
what I have seen
through the gift of sight;

what I have heard
through the gift of hearing;

what I have absorbed
through all my senses.

taste

smell

 touch

May I weave choice words
into a fabric of comfort
that readers may wear.

This is my prayer.  

© 2020 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy: "receptacle" ~ May 2, 2016

Photo Locations:

1. Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming

2. Blue-winged Warbler - Goodwillie Environmental School - Ada, Michigan

3.  Townsend Park Trails - Kent County - Michigan

4. Lilly-of-the-Valley - Mom's Farm - Kent County - Michigan

5. Grand River - Grand Rapids, Michigan

6. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado

The Color of Light

Look how the sunlight
examines your small plot of earth
(or acres if your lucky).

Hour by hour,
streaking through summer leaves.

Season by season;
dazzling the hills of snow,

warming the soil in spring fields,
softening the mountain edges,
washing the rushing streams.

Watching every day;
especially evenings,
when the color of light
warms,
just before it fades.

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

2. Longmont, Colorado

3. Ada Township - Kent County - Michigan

4. Red Hill, New Mexico

5. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado

6. Sierra Vista, Arizona 

I Sit

I sit.
Beneath this arch of sky,
under the sublime influence
of Lake Michigan;
scanning the far horizon,
trying to perceive the slight 
curvature of the earth
at the edge of the sky. 

I sit.
Sheltered in the green shade
of an enormous White Oak,
while the drowsy summer sun
warms the surrounding fields
abundant with the soft faces
of Queen Anne's Lace.

I sit.
On the bouldered bank
of the Arkansas River,
bordered with Ponderosa Pines;
exhilarated by the rush of current,
mesmerized by the sound of rapids,
and time,
racing 
past.

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Michigan

2. Grand Haven State Park - Michigan

3. Dixon, Illinois

4. Home Fields - Cannonsburg, Michigan

5. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado