Acceptance II

 

As time seems to accelerate

in these older years,

my attachment to life

has strengthened.

Of course there is

a sense of aching in my heart,

like things could start

to unravel in the next ten years.

However, at seventy-eight,

my current grip on life

feels firm and confident,

like when I'm lifting weights.

Or running wooded trails, or the beach.

Or playing tennis and pickleball.

Or swimming in the ocean.

Or hiking in the mountains.

Or photographing nature

all over this beautiful country.

Or Writing outdoors 

in numerous locations.

A working combination of

adaptability, and perseverance.

Acceptance and gratitude

for my abundant blessings.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy: "Acceptance" - October 23, 2023

Photo Locations:

1. Canyonlands National Park - Utah

2. Kauapea Beach - Kauai, Hawaii (12-22-05)

3. Angels Landing Trail - Zion National Park - Utah

4. White Sands National Park - New Mexico

5. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado

Canyonlands

 

Under the shadow

of the passing raven's wings,

lichen green clumps of sage

are scattered over red soil

in the silent solitude

of the Canyonlands.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

My Middle Name

 

I'm seventy-five years old.

This is the middle

of the eighth decade

I've been blessed to live

on this beautiful earth.

The morning hours

of writing poetry

have been fulfilling and fruitful.

These past twelve years

passing too swiftly.

I am enriched every day

by observations of nature.

Grateful to God the Creator

for sensory awareness,

and for the freedom to explore. 

I am

accepting the past,

living in the present,

and anticipating the future

when I'll be running and writing.

My middle name is Gratitude.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Canyonlands National Park - Utah

2. Home Deck - Cannonsburg, Michigan 

3. Butonbush - Kent County - Michigan

4. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado

Receptacle III

 

After gathering

a worthy collection of words,

and arranging them

in an acceptable receptacle,

I seek relevant images

for my words to clothe.

And I go to the source

of the ultimate in creativity;

God's astonishing creation

within the wonders of nature.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

You may also like: "Receptacle II" July 23, 2020 & "Receptacle" May 2, 2016

Photo Locations:

1. Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

2. Church Rock - Canyonlands National Park - Utah

  

needles

 

picking out a route

hiking through the junipers

heart of Canyonlands

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Canyonlands National Park - (The Needles) - Utah

Cliff Gallery

 

Ancient beasts

etched in sandstone,

crawl the walls

of this cliff gallery,

seeking level ledges,

fleeing from 

haunting human forms.

Petroglyphs

escaping timelessness;

trying to change 

the end of the story. 

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. "Newspaper Rock" - Canyonlands National Park - Utah

3. Dinosaur National Monument - Colorado & Utah 

If I Could

If I could give you
the sound of the rain
falling on leaves of grass
during a warm 
April shower;

If I could give you 
the sound and sight
of golden Aspen leaves
trembling on their twigs
in September elevations;

If I could give you
the steady flight path
of the Great Blue Heron
rowing through the 
humid air of July;

If I could give you
the gift of time
passing by slowly 
in the desert,
like an invitation;

I would.

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Home fields - Cannonsburg, Michigan

2. Ouray, Colorado  

3. Rogue River - Rockford, Michigan

4. Canyonlands National Park - Utah

Eyes of Time

The eyes of time
look upon the landscape.

Patient, prevailing.
Carrying out assigned tasks.

Weathered wood aging.
Ancient stone smoothing.

Loyal seasons passing.
Perceptive eyes observing.

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Arches National Park - Utah

2. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado

3. Church Rock - Canyonlands National Park - Utah

4. Canyonlands National Park - Utah

Published in Stone

Bold beasts
suspended in sandstone,
traveling through time,
rambling nowhere.

Angular, circular,
intense with purpose.
Hands drawing hands.
Hands drawing tracks.

Cut with care
and crude tools,
dyed with earth's pigments,
their instruments of art express:

respect for ravens
and fear of snakes;
pursuit of elk, bison,
antelope and deer.

Meals shared
with stories of the hunt.

Visions published in stone.
Preserved for centuries.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

Dinosaur National Monument ~ Colorado

Dinosaur National Monument ~ Utah

Canyonlands National Park ~ Utah

May You Walk V

May you walk along the ridge
above spring-green aspens vibrant in the valley. 

May you walk between clumps of sage
scattered and spaced over red dirt deserts.

May you walk among dense, dark ferns
unfurling on the floor of the forest.

May you walk under pillars of Ponderosa Pine, 
and inhale the aroma of butterscotch-vanilla-honey. 

May you walk, upon waking, in the morning woods
vibrant with the voices of vireos. 

May you walk on the ocean's sandy shores
resplendent with the rising sun.

May you walk through the seasons of your life attentive and alert,
with a joyful sense of gratitude.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Peaceful Valley, Colorado

2. Canyonlands National Park - Utah

3. Cinnamon Fern - Home Woods - Kent County - Michigan 

4. Pinesdale, Montana

5. Yellow-throated Vireo - Home Woods - 

6. Sunset Beach, North Carolina

You may also enjoy: 

May You Walk III  - July 20, 2015

May You Walk II - January 12, 2015

Unspoken

Twilight fades and shades the faces

of outcropping desert rocks,

as another purple dusk

climbs over this sandstone ridge.

The mind cannot comprehend

the slow passage of time here.

But the memory of rock

spans millenniums.

Waiting in this vast desert,

listening for God's voice,

I will always remember

the density of the silence.

And in that moment,

the silent praise

I gave for these gifts

unspoken.

©  2013  Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Canyonlands National Park,  (Canyonlands)  Utah