There are seventy-five years
of distance between me,
and the black and white photograph
of a little boy on a rope swing.
My father, Richard,
made this rope swing;
tied to a high tree branch,
sturdy and strong like he was.
My mother, Lillian,
who took the photo in 1951,
said I was a shy and quiet little boy.
I would like to get
inside his head.
I would like
to give him a push.
© 2026 Richard Havenga
Photo Location: Ada Township - Kent County - Michigan
When I was a child,
a boy walking outdoors,
the meanings were faint,
but my eyes were large.
Then, as a young adult,
a man walking outdoors,
with focused awareness
and explicit intentions.
Now, an older man with a gentle spirit,
collecting images, gathering words,
sorting meaning into lines,
pursuing truth and beauty.
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Working to fill the page.
Seeking fulfillment.
Giving gratitude. Sharing.
Revealing the heart of a quiet poet.
© 2024 Richard Havenga
Occasionally, in my travels,
I become a tourist of the past.
Returning to the locations
of old black and white photographs.
Here's a little boy on a swing,
swinging in his yard from a tree.
He seems to like being outdoors.
They used to call him Dickie Lee.
© 2023 Richard L. Havenga
Photo Credit: Lillian Havenga © 1951 (me age 3)
