Pleasant Peninsulas

 

In Michigan,

we live on one of two

pleasant peninsulas,

surrounded by inland seas.

Superior.

Michigan.

Huron.

Erie.

Plus, we have about 

twelve-thousand

inland lakes.

In the late 20th century,

our license plates boasted:

"Water-Winter Wonderland".

It's true.

We would appreciate

an exploratory visit

from you.

© 2026 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Arcadia, Michigan

2. Grand Haven State Park & Lighthouse ~ Michigan

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

4. Wabasis Lake Park & Campground - Kdingent County - Michigan

5. Ludington State Park - Ludington, Michigan

Heaven Between the Trees

 

Now that the sun has

migrated back to the north,

I don't have to wait as long for

first light to turn into first color,

for morning to open the day.

The birds wake earlier

and stay later in April.

American Goldfinches

are beginning to show color;

slight hints of yellow feathers.

In about four to six weeks,

all of our colorful warblers

will be migrating and singing

their parts in the sweet choir

in the temple of our woods.

Heaven between the trees.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. Lowell Township - Kent County - Michigan

3. Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

How to Read Words

 

You are reading these words

as I have written them:

Transparent as Lake Superior's water.

Clear as the night sky in the desert.

Soft as the petals of Arizona's poppies.

Colorful as October woods in Michigan.

Generous as the ocean pushing onto the shore.

Fresh as spring daffodils in your garden.

Dependable as the seasons turning.

Striving as acorns aspire to become oaks.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Whitefish Point Bird Observatory - Upper Peninsula- Michigan

2. La Jolla, California

3. Wabasis Lake Park & Campground - Kent County - Michigan

Coming True

 

The wind is playing

in the golden trees.

Leaves and their shadows

are meeting on the ground.

Seasons are rushing past.

The years are coming true.

Plans are not promised.

Our lives are transitory.

But I am optimistic,

and abundantly blessed.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. 4. & 5. Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

2. & 3. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

Winter Weight

 

Pulling off the warm blanket of sleep,

I turn my gaze to the cold stare of winter.

Fields filled with fresh, new snow.

Heavy clouds that brought last night's storm

are now passing east, tearing apart.

A low, late morning sun breaks through

to illuminate a thousand points of light.

Jeweled prisms captivate my sight

as the weight of this winter day

begins to lighten.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Centennial, Wyoming

2. Ada Township - Kent County - Michigan

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

4. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

Promise

 

A seed in the soil

is the promise of patience.

I don't mean radish seeds or beans

that kids plant in backyard gardens,

that emerge and surge into green;

flourishing by the next full moon.

Rather, acorns, hickory nuts,

samaras from maples,

hard seeds of Black Cherry.

Young saplings that will achieve

the height of the parent trees

decades after we're gone.

That's a promise.

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Fallasburg Park - Lowell, Michigan

2. Wabasis Lake Park - Michigan

3. & 4. Lowell Township - Kent County - Michigan

Proof

 

Like the wake of a boat,

we leave evidence

of our lives lived.

The silver undulations

spreading across the lake

sustain their own energy.

And eventually touch the shore,

causing small ripples of sound.

Proof that we once lived.

Proof that our purpose

is more powerful

than our past.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

Fabric of Words

 

Each new morning

new creation

is breathed into being.

I am drawn into

attentive awareness

by my muse,

the Holy Spirit.

Gifts are presented by the Giver; 

woven through this day,

which I humbly strive to weave

into a fabric of words.

My camera captures 

components of creation,

fragments from the natural world,

images to ignite the writing. 

Small pieces of joy

return each year

in the greenwash of spring:

I look into the intensely blue sky

through a filter of Dogwood blossoms;

white purity in the shape of a cross. 

Along this trickle of stream

Forget-me-nots are remembered

for their delicate loyalty.

Wading in watery wetlands,

Yellow Iris, in feminine dress,

live short, yet luxurious lives.

Rinsed by soft rain,

arching leaves of grass

hold jeweled droplets 

in graceful balance.

Gifts presented by the Giver,

woven through this day. 

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Flowering Dogwood ~ Grand Rapids Township - Kent County - Michigan

2. Forget-Me-Not ~ Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

3. Yellow Iris ~ Ada Township - Kent County - Michigan

4. Grasses ~ Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

sudden

 

these sudden mushrooms

emerge after autumn rains

with moist, rounded caps

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

Supplication

The branches
that arch over this trail
form a cathedral;

and remind me
of the blessing
in our church
when the parishioners
extend their arms
into the sacred space
arching above their souls
while a prayer for healing
is conferred upon the sick,
and enhanced
by our plentiful palms;

like all the leaves
in the woods
reaching for the sun.

Supplication sustained by praise.
Hope hinged with belief.

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

2. & 3. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

Bones of Winter

These bare branches
are the bones of winter;
persistent, persevering,
collecting snow and ice,
enduring months of cold.

Holding secrets
within their twigs.

Waiting for the 
silent light of spring
to pull liquid life
up the xylem,
to burst the buds
now lying dormant,
enclosed by winter.

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. White Oak ~ Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

2. & 3. American Beech ~ Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

4. Honey Creek - Seidman Park - Ada, Michigan

Poem Trees

Some of his poems
contained trees,
and some of his trees
grew into poems;
accumulating
along the bends
of their branches. 

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

November Color

Fine flat needles 
of Tamarack linger, 
and lighten the swamp.

Cheerful Winterberries
decorate the edges of 
November wetlands.

Sparse, purple clumps
of wild grapes
dangle in tart bunches.

Bright red bundles
of Highbush Cranberry
hold early snow. 

The powder-blue fruits
of Red Cedar emit a
pungent aroma in the uplands.

Copper colored leaves
persist on slender twigs
of American Beech.

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

2. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

3. 4.  Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

5. Gavin Lake - Kent County - Michigan

6. Cascade Public Library - Kent County - Michigan

7. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

8. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

Morning Greeting

My morning greeting:

Catbird calling 
from secret green shadows
auditioning several songs.

Young cumulus 
sailing on a ship of wind
powdering the blue sky.

Sweet peas 
climbing upon themselves
painting a profusion of pink.

Colors of crimson
blending with blue
smoothing wrinkled water.

My response:

Watching.
Listening.
Sharing.

My reply:

Giving
gratitude
for given creation.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations

1. Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

2. Home Sky - Cannonsburg, Michigan

3. Ada Township - Kent County - Michigan

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