Guidelines for Poets

The necessity for solitude.

Sensitivity to your surroundings.

The significance of tranquility.

A reverent sense of place.

Awareness through all senses.

Recognition of the Spirit within.

The wonder of mystery.

A sincere love of nature.

Search for God's presence.

Pursue your curiosity.

Celebrate the seasons.

Write often. Revise more.

Honor the abundance of creation

with praise for the creator.

Gratitude. Every day, gratitude.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

1. Louisville, Colorado

 

Thirteen Poets

 

I've blown the leaves,

pruned the shrubs, and

stacked the firewood.

Now the daylight

begins to fade.

After dinner, I will select

a book of poetry from the shelf,

and settle in for inspiration.

Now, how to choose

among my favorites:

Luci Shaw, Mary Oliver.

Dan Gerber, Ted Kooser.

David Whyte, David Lee.

Jane Kenyon, Naomi Shihab Nye.

William Stafford, Judith Minty.

Neruda, Rilke, Rumi.

And what poets

do you prefer,

dear reader?

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: My Personal Library

The Poetry of Reeds

 

Like poets,

they do not have a large audience,

yet, they move, when they must, 

with a grace that's resilient, benevolent. 

Yielding to waves.

Persuaded by the wind.

Enduring winter's ice.

Emerging in the spring.

Arching above the water

with architectural strength.

Like poets,

they do not have

a large audience.

They simply

live a life

of quiet existence.  

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Leland, Michigan

2. 3. & 4. McCarthy Lake - Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

Path Through the Leaves

I found these old words
fallen from familiar trees 
and saved them here
to be surprised in the future.

Like years of autumn leaves
pressed into the pages
of the silent books
that wait on my library shelves.

A broad Sugar Maple leaf
preserved in soft yellow
somewhere inside
William Stafford's work.

A two-lobed Sassafras leaf,
the left-handed one,
flattened on the Michigan page
of my Rand McNally.

And American Beech, my favorite,
gathered in early November;
veins precisely pinnate,
perfect for bookmarks within:

Mary Oliver, Luci Shaw,
Dan Gerber, and David Lee;
to be discovered years later,
they mark my place in time.

Hoping what I've found
will not be lost,
but saved within
the pages of books.

To recall once again
the seasons of life,
my journey with words,
my path through the leaves.

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1, 2, 3. Home Library

4. 5. Home Woods

6. Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

7. Fallasburg Park - Kent County - Michigan

Hearts and Bones

You know how the words
inside the body of a poem
can pulse with rhythm
and resonate with music;

how they frame the 
experience of the poet;
how the words carry
the presence of place
into your mind;
and carry you 
into the mystery?

This is the work of words:

Constructing meaning.
Creating a connection
between writer and reader.

Sharpening your senses.
Igniting your imagination.

Entering your hearts
and your bones.

© 2019 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy this post about Writing: "Harvest" ~ October 27, 2014



Photo Locations: 

Home Perennial Gardens - Cannonsburg, Michigan

Bleeding Hearts - Lamprocapnos spectabilis

Fragments of Poetry 15

"How astonishing it is
when some floating sense of exaltation
or desperation sharpens into
a phrase that bursts uninvited,
into consciousness, ... and soon
this little jewel of a thing is born
and grows up to be a poem."

~ Luci Shaw - from: What the Light Was Like © 2006



You may also enjoy:

Fragments of Poetry 14 ~ October 24, 2014

Fragments of Poetry 12 ~ February 12, 2014

Fragments of Poetry 9 ~ May 9, 2013


Jewelweed - Impatiens pallida~ Photography by Richard Havenga

Written on the Sky

Look at those high,
swirling cirrus
stretching, drifting
across the summer sky.

Appearing out of thin air
with briefly enhanced definition,
then fading, disappearing.

Scientist: atmospheric water vapor.

Artist: designer fabric on high.

Poet: 
white, delicate prayers
silently written on the sky,
awaiting translation.

© 2015 Richard Havenga

Dusk II

Cloud fingers stretch for last light, 
as dusk drains color from the day.

Slow ripples soften to calm,
as water plants cease wavering.

Soft summer night settles in,
as the poet searches for words.

© 2015 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy:

"Dusk" ~ May 30, 2013 

"velvet dusk" ~ September 26, 2014

John Ruskin

Photo Location:  Petty's Bayou, (Petty's) Spring Lake, (Spring Lake) Michigan (Michigan) 

Wordsworth

Photo Location:

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (Corkscrew) Audubon Center,  Naples, (Naples) Florida (Florida) 

Alligator Flag - Thalia geniculata

Two Years @ WWFN

April 2, 2012 is the day I began my adventure into blogging. "Walk With Father Nature" is now two years old. I cannot believe the attention that WWFN has received. 

I never dreamed I would write this much, for this long. I had no idea I would create so many poems, Haiku, and creative non-fiction pieces. 

Over 325 posts have been published here, as of today's date. Over 200,000 page views have been recorded. I wish to give a HUGE THANK YOU to all of the viewers: 

• Visitors from 123 countries. 
• Hundreds of new acquaintances from around the United States. 
• 2,000 + connections from LinkedIn who are:
•  Bloggers, Writers, Poets, Artists, Photographers, Editors, Publishers, Authors, Teachers, Administrators, Professors, CEOs, and Naturalists. 
• Many Home School families are looking at WWFN regularly. 
• And of course I sincerely appreciate the support of family members. 

My dear wife, Mary knows the time I invest into every post; searching for ideas, composing, writing, revising, revising, and revising until I am satisfied with the results. She knows about the planning, work, time, travel, endurance and patience involved in collecting photographs acceptable for this venue. I work hard to match the words to my photographs; or the photographs to my words.

My awesome daughter, Sarah, a Writer herself, has been a devoted "Follower", composing eloquent responses to my posts, and is a constant source of encouragement for her "Daddy".

Many people on Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, StumbleUpon, and those in my Circles, "Like" the Nature Photography that they see there. I assume you are all visiting the actual site at WWFN, and not merely "liking" it on FB, etc. I would like to see more discussions about the writing, the poetry, the learning... here at WWFN. I will reply to all of your comments. 

I also encourage you to check out the WWFN Archives: 2012-2014. Select a year, then select a month. Explore around through the seasons. 

You will of course notice the "Viewers' Favorites" column with every post. These may be subtitled: "Last 7 Days", "Last 30 Days", or "All-Time Favorites". 

You and your friends are encouraged to subscribe to WWFN with your Email to receive new posts as they are published. If you wish to write to me directly, you may go to my Google website: click here» Richard L. Havenga for my Email.

Also, click on any topics from the "Topics" section that appeal to you. There are hundreds to choose from: A to Z. I see I haven't used the letter X yet. 

Look over the "Readers' Comments" in the sidebar. Perhaps yours will be in there someday.

Remember my mission statement is always at the top of every post. I will continue to Give the Glory to God for this opportunity, this blessing, to share His creation in words and photographs. 

 Many viewers at WWFN have asked: "Richard, what are your favorites?"  From posts over the past 12 months (only), I've tried to narrow it down to 12 of my  favorite posts. Click on a few of these now, a few later this week, and please come back often to explore for more.

You may wish to compile your own list, then write a comment telling me what you like and why. Thank you very much for your participation. I promise to respond. 

Here are my personal favorites. Please click on the titles that appeal to you:

Only Silence Remains - October 14, 2013

The Same Sun - August 5, 2013

You - February 5, 2014

The River Dancing - January 20, 2014

Journey of a Journal - April 2, 2013

Willow's Shadow - September 9, 2013

A Wing and a Prayer - July 8, 2013

When - July 31, 2013

Silver Bells - Silver Prayers - December 30, 2013

The Way - March , 2014

Unspoken - September 30, 2013

Aspen Fire - October 21, 2013


May I please add a few of my favorite Haiku?

Willow Leaf - July 27, 2013

White on Blue - March 3, 2014

Gold Rings - July 11, 2013

Heron Sleeps - August 10, 2013



Readers:

I want you to know that I pray daily to God for the Holy Spirit (within) to inspire me to write. 

I truly and sincerely appreciate you being here at WWFN for these two years. I am blessed and motivated by your presence. Please help me to grow and sustain this blog by passing WWFN along to your friends and family. 

Gratefully,

Richard Havenga



Please note: 

April 2, 2014 is also Aaron's (would-be) 39th Birthday. Aaron is our only son. We still think of him every day. See "Journey of a Journal" above.