Autumn Gold Attitude

 

You are that leaf

freshly fallen

onto the small stream.

Floating first on smooth water,

then riding the ripples

above a bed of pebbles,

then over rocks

and rising rapids

to be churned and turned

and twisted underwater.

At last settling

near a sidebank

in a festival of colors

where your

autumn gold attitude

still reflects the sun.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Grand River - Knapp Street Bridge - Kent County, Michigan

2. Page Creek - Fallasburg Park - Kent County - Michigan

3. Bear Creek - Townsend Park - Kent County - Michiagn

Acceptance

 

In the quiet air of an autumn afternoon,

something seems to be asking for my attention.

Something hidden in the vacant spaces

between leaves turning from green to gold.

Waiting for confirmation,

validation, affirmation.

It could be the inscrutable presence,

the essence of the Holy Spirit.

I will offer my benevolent attendance

through a fervent prayer of acceptance.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

2. Fallasburg Park - Kent County - Michigan

3. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

harvest

 

October harvest

flags of gold and tubes of red

a wall of cornstalks

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

surrender

fragile flakes of gold

hovering over dark creek

soon to surrender

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Spring Creek - Fallasburg Park - Kent County - Michigan

value of gold

 "Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost

fog softens the woods

Sugar Maple leaves linger

valuable as gold

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Fallasburg Park - Kent County - Michigan

Lake Music

Listen
to the song
of these soft 
summer showers.

Can you hear
the lake
make music 
with the rain?

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

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

2. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado

rich flame burning within

May you grow
rich
from a wealth of
curiosity;
ignited by the
flame
of the Holy Spirit
burning
with creativity
within
your soul.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy: "Something to Keep ~ Something to Give Away" - Dec. 11, 2017

Photo Locations:

1. Grand Mesa National Forest - Colorado

2. Our Lady of Light Catholic Community - Estero, Florida 

Early Autumn Stage

As summer settles
into September,
asters and goldenrod
accept the invitation
for this month
of transition.

Yellow and gold,
purple and lavender,
assume their places
on this early autumn stage.

In the background,
from the percussion section;
acorns and hickory nuts
begin to pound the ground,
zip through layers of leaves,
bounce off the inverted canoe.

And in the evening,
as the air cools,
crickets slow their song.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 3. Grattan Township - Kent County, Michigan

2. & 4. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

Testimony

Aspens hold up their branches,
providing evidence of
the passage of time;
giving seasonal testimony
through their leaves 
that swear to tell 
the whole truth;

green, greener, gold, and gone.

Holding their knotted trunks
before you like an offering.
Like a gift facing the future.

Accepting change.

Tiny green
banners of hope
flagging in the wind.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Maroon Bells, Aspen, Colorado

2, 4, 5. Ohio Creek Road - N.W. of Gunnison, Colorado

3. Grand Mesa National Forest - Colorado

Reading the River

The steady pull of the river
carries you toward the future,
proposing your purpose;

dropping the residue of regret,
now accumulating unseen
in the silt of the riverbed.

Rounded wrinkles swirl on the surface;
appearing and disappearing.

The fluid edges of light
bending blue and gold.

Like opportunities for change
sliding over the smooth current
of the present.

Slowing down, 
taking some time
to see what else

the river may bring. 

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Pickerel Lake Park ~ Fred Meijer Nature Preserve

September Stage

As summer settles
into September,
asters and goldenrod
accept the invitation
to audition
for this month
of transition.

Yellow and gold,
purple and lavender,
assume their places
on this September stage.

In the background,
from the percussion section,
acorns and hickory nuts
zip through the leaves,
pound the ground,
and bounce off my
inverted canoe.

During these cooler nights,
cricket calls seem calmer
as they continue to crank out
their calibrated wing rustles;
soft stridulations 
with temperature affecting
their measured notes.

The stage is set.
Harmony prevails.
The audience approves.

© 2017 Richard Havenga

Still

Do you still listen
to the rain
like you did
as a child?

Does it still dance
upon the water,
shout on the streets,
sing through the trees?

Have you listened lately?

We can still live our lives
as if everything spoke to us.

Walk out into this new day,
or into the dark, still night;
then stop.
Look.
Listen.

© 2016 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Pickerel Lake Park / Meijer Nature Preserve Kent County, Michigan 

The Gift

Click on photo to enlarge.

Slash Pine - Pinus elliottii


Photo Location:

Estero,  (Estero)  Florida (Florida)

The Work

Click on photo to enlarge.

Weeping Willow - Salix babylonica


Photo Location:

McCarthy Lake,  Kent County,  Michigan  (Michigan )


Reference:

Life Application Bible - New International Version (Bible) 

published by:  Zondervan Publishing House - (Zondervan)  Grand Rapids, Michigan

Gifts of Gold

This fresh appearance
of golden arches flowering
signals summer ending,
autumn approaching,
September aging.

 

Gracefully curving

above stiff stalks
of bunched leaves,
tiny towers topped
with yellow flame.

Admired, desired,
gathered in a vessel
labeled "gifts of gold"
the comfort of memories
to keep, to hold.

Canadian Goldenrod - Solidago canadensis
Smooth Goldenrod - Solidago juncea


Photo Locations: 

Home Woods 

Townsend Park,  (Townsend)  Kent County,  Michigan  (Michigan)

Gold

You waited this long,
this deep into summer,
to open your soft fingers.

Curved rays of gentle sun
welcome the hands
that will harvest
this golden treasure,
this small pleasure,

into an antique vase
to warm our days,
or bring
soothing comfort
to an old friend.

© 2013  Richard Havenga

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on photos to enlarge.

 

Black-eyed Susan - Rudbeckia hirta

 

Photo Location: Dad's Creek






Gold Rings

water's smooth surface

collects sprinkles at sunset

returns rings of gold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Location:  Pickerel Lake Park, (Pickerel)  Kent County,  Michigan