Last Light

 

Dark silhouettes of Canada Geese

hurry past, on their way

to the shallow wetlands

of Saul Lake Bog;

gliding in low,

arriving at dusk,

as calm water

catches the day's last light,

and the soft breasts

of settling geese.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve

Reading Outdoors

 

Oh, the many benefits

of reading outdoors:

The sun shining brightly

on the pages of your book.

Tree shadows passing

over the paragraphs.

Perhaps golden leaves

landing in your lap.

A small choir of birds

singing in the background.

Or a clamorous crowd of geese

causing you to look up.

Occasional bursts of wind

turning the pages for you.

Dragonflies landing on the lines,

walking on the words.

Maybe a cool stream

trickling over your toes.

Or the sound of gentle ripples

entering your ears.

All these welcome distractions

affecting your concentration.

Causing you to get paper and pen.

Following the urge to write outdoors.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Fallasburg Park - Lowell, Michigan

2. Tassell Park - Cascade, Michigan

3. Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve - Parnell, Michigan

4. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

5. SaddleBrooke - Arizona

Saul Lake Bog

Fine tracings

of arching grasses

are frosted at dawn.

Thick shrubs of Cranberry

display red and green leaves 

packed tightly along their twigs.

Browned cattail leaves

curve down from their heights,

more brittle than their summer selves.

A White-tailed buck

stands tall in the Tamaracks;

alert and muscular,

displaying a large rack of antlers.

A few hundred Canada Geese

announce their departure;

rise clamorously

off the shallow water,

assemble airborne into formation,

and depart over autumn leaves.

Winterberry and

large rose hips

add red highlights

into the dense shade.

Black-capped Chickadees

balance like acrobats

while picking at seed heads

of dried wildflowers

and cattails.

Morning has broken 

at Saul Lake Bog.

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve - Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

 

Joyful Song

The sweet syllables
of a Song Sparrow
pulled my attention
away from myself;

awakened my awareness,
focused my eyes and ears
on the sight and sound
of this little brown bird;

proclaiming his joyful song,
touching my heart and soul.

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Cannonsburg State Game Area - Kent County - Michigan

2. Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve - Kent County - Michigan

Head and Hands

With this pen in my hand
my fingers reach down
to touch the texture
of lichens and soft, green moss.

My head sees my hand
stretching over foothills,
casting irregular shadows
the shape of clouds.

Walking through tall prairie grasses,
with arms outstretched,
my palms and fingers
tingle with their touch.

Inside the canyons 
of my head
curved ribbons of wind
caress my mind.

Outside my self, 
God says: "I am here."
I reply,
"Here I am."

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Pine Stump Junction - Michigan's Upper Peninsula

2. Ward, Colorado

3. Saul Lake Bog - (Land Conservancy of West Michigan) - Kent County - Michigan

4. Bryce Canyon National Park - Utah

5. Buena Vista, Colorado

Cursive

A swallow is flying
in a cursive "S"

above the shallow shoreline,
wingtips brushing the surface,

sweeping, swooping, scooping
insects in the humid summer air. 

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1, 2, & 3. Pickerel Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

4. Saul Lake Bog & Nature Preserve - Kent County - Michigan

Picasso

"Art washes away

from the soul

the dust of everyday life."

~ Pablo Picasso  (1881 - 1973)

Photo Location: 

Saul Lake Bog - Land Conservancy of West Michigan