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

Possibilities

While out on a walk, a Red-tailed Hawk

suddenly swooped in without a sound.

His flared tail, a copper fan,

slowed his landing onto the branch.

He shook and shivered

his body feathers into place.

Considered this tree a possible space

to scan the ground for possible prey.

But soon became indignant

that I was watching him watch.

He lifted off effortlessly and flew away,

seemingly disgruntled by my human presence,

and searching for new possibilities.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Birdies While Golfing

 

Walking down the fairway

approaching my well-hit ball,

this challenging game of  golf

has several benefits for all.

At hole number one it's obvious:

you get to be outdoors;

observing dynamic skies

and all this nature can be yours.

I'm hearing Eastern Bluebirds

fly from tree to tree,

watching them snatch small insects

that I can't even see.

Then a Red-tailed Hawk 

sweeps and sails into view,

riding on summer thermals,

another distraction for you.

And down in the wetland,

a group of Canada Geese,

dabbling in shallow water,

paddling and feeding in peace.

And so by the time we begin

our putting at number eighteen,

I've scored a lot more birdies

than my partners from tee to green.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

3.  Pickerel Lake Park - Fred Meijer Nature Preserve - Kent County - Michigan

Shadow's Source

 

Whenever a quick,

silent shadow sweeps

over the ground around me,

I immediately look up

toward the sun,

to find the shadow's source.

Was it a Turkey Vulture,

Red-tailed Hawk,

or Sandhill Crane?

A Canada Goose, of course,

would announce its arrival

before it arrived. 

This time a large surprise:

a Bald Eagle carving easy circles

between sun and clouds.

Silent shadows

sweeping the earth,

far below the source.

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 3. Home Fields - Cannonsburg, Michigan

2. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

4. Pickerel Lake Park - Fred Meijer Nature Preserve - Kent County - Michigan

5. Eagle Lakes Park - Naples, Florida

Early

Emerging maple samaras
flare red like fireworks
in early morning sun.

Above this canopy of woods,
a Red-tailed Hawk
surfs on early thermals.

Early wildflowers
like Bloodroot and Trout Lily
rise triumphant from fertile forest soil. 

Migrating warblers
greet the early riser
with a chorus of birdsong.

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Georgetown, Kentucky

2. Kent County - Michigan

3. Trout Lily -  Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

4.  Wilson's Warbler - Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado

Shadow of the Hawk

Hiking this bouldered trail
on my earth bound existence,
I am suddenly touched
by the passing shadow
of a Red-tailed Hawk.

Above these foothills
scattered with Ponderosa,
he is sailing in circles.


Below these cumulus
growing whiter and brighter,
he is dancing on the wind.

Under this intensely blue
Colorado sky,
this flying shadow
felt like a brief blessing. 

It was.

© 2016 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1, 2, 3: Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado 

4. Kent County, Michigan

Waiting

Waiting for opportunities
for the wind to carry you;

You being the outstretched 
wings of a hawk. Its feathered resistance
riding the updrafts higher and higher.
Inscribing invisible ovals into the air,
traceless in a transparent sky.

You being the silken, feathery fibers
of the milkweed seed, 
parachuting horizontally
toward a new horizon, 

to wait over winter 
for promised germination,
hoping for conditions that will allow
growth.



You being the patient person
waiting for your life to become
what it is meant to be;
richer than it is, 
soaring to new a vision,
growing with inspiration
from the Spirit within.

©2015 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Lincoln Lake - Kent County, Michigan

2. Lafayette, Colorado

3. Grand River Nature Area - Ada, Michigan

Pursuit of Prey

Scanning/Searching

Found/Focused

Propel/Pursue

 

 

 

 

 



Capture/Consume

(Click on photos to enlarge)


Red-tailed Hawk:  Buteo jamaicensis


Photo Location:  Hatchet,  Wyoming (Wyoming)