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

Geography of Dreams

 

The inner landscapes of my mind

have been shaped by a language

learned and discerned

from connections with nature.

Mountains, meadows, woods and fields.

Rivers, lakes, oceans and streams.

They blend together to become

the geography of my dreams.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Canyon de Chelly - Arizona

2. Wyoming

3. West Elk Wilderness - Colorado

Losing Transparency

 

When the rainshowers began,

the lake lost its transparency,

removed its reflection.

Ten-thousand shivers

danced on the water.

Absolute acceptance.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations: 

1. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado

2. Pickerel Lake Park (Fred Meijer Nature Preserve) - Kent County - Michigan

Soothed

 

A mid-August rain

soaks the thirsty soil.

Signs its signature by

churning the lake's surface.

Listen to it hissing, swishing.

Water splashing water.

Rain softening the earth.

Earth sighing and soothed.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Pickerel Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan

2. Murray Lake - Kent County - Michigan

3. Villa Grove, Colorado

Tops of Trees

 

The Great Blue Heron

flies with a rhythm of certainty

above the tops of trees.

From the rookery

in the tops of trees,

to the lake's shallow edge.

Steadily rowing the air,

not fast, but purposeful,

knowing where she needs to go.

Knowing what she knows.

© 2025 Richard Havenga

 

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. Great Blue Heron Rookery - Undisclosed Location (for their protection)

3. Eagle Lakes Park - Naples, Florida

4. Rogue River - Rockford, Michigan

Treasures

 

Tangles of driftwood accumulate

along the river's sloping shore;

like a puzzle of jumbled thoughts. 

Clouds drift across the sky

as though weightless;

like forgotten dreams.

Rain returns to the lake

it evaporated from;

like a treasured memory. 

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Lewis & Clark State Park - North Dakota

2. McCarthy Lake - Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

3. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado

Persevere

 

Like rain falling

onto the lake's surface;

whether soft and gentle,

or hard and harsh;

we absorb

what life brings us

and are grateful for the grace

to carry on, to persevere.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Signature of the Rain

 

It must be pleasant to live

at a small, inland lake,

and enjoy the simple benefits

that are often overlooked.

Like watching the tracks

of the wind on water,

or the simple signature

of the rain.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Floating on the Clouds

 

The sky seems bluer

when seen between

a flock of clouds.

Cumulus passing silently

over the reflective lake.

In my kayak,

I'm floating on the clouds,

riding in the blue sky.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. McCarthy Lake - Kent County - Michigan

Water into Water

 

Rain is progressing

up the Grand River valley;

softening the rich soil,

placing a sheen on the 

Silver Maple leaves,

dimpling the river's surface.

I watch the river

accept the rain;

water into water,

meandering 

through the landscape

on its silent course.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. Grand River - Plainfield Township - Kent County - Michigan

Clouds of Poetry

 

The sky-blue sky

reads like a sentence from summer,

punctuated with commas of cumulus.

The sky-blue lake

collects the scroll of clouds

on its mirrored surface.

I'm floating in my kayak

on the sky-blue sky,

paddling between clouds of poetry.

Then the wind exhales

and brushes the clouds

into ripples of scribbles.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

McCarthy Lake - Kent County - Michigan

 

Reeds

 

These flexible reeds,

in knee deep water,

rise in slender columns

above the lake,

lean in the wind,

create delicate, artful arches,

sway with undulating waves,

provide shelter for nymphs,

resting places for dragonflies,

add substance to the shallows,

and focal points for 

your admiring eyes.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations: 

1. Leland, Michigan

2. McCarthy Lake - Cannonsburg, Michigan

Still 4

 

Summer ripens into August,

spawning heat, haze, and humidity;

the air so still,

not a leaf moves.

The surface of the lake

so smooth, so still;

lily pads are glossy green plates.

A table setting on calm water.

I'm still waiting

for the next

rigorous thunderstorm

to arouse the atmosphere.

© 2022 Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy:

"Still 3" ~ December 16, 2021

"Still 2" ~ April 29, 2019

"Still" ~ September 12, 2016

Photo Locations:

1. McCarthy Lake - Kent County - Michigan

2. Ludington State Park - beach - Ludington, Michigan

Plates and Bowls

 

Floating flat as fabric

around the lake's circumference;

lily pads cover the tablecloth surface

with smooth plates of glossy green.

Bowls of soft blossoms

hold purity in their petals.

Displaying individual crescents

arching like the new moon.

White explosions

over calm water.

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. McCarthy Lake - 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

Borrowed Light

 

The moon borrowed

light from the sun

and shared a small slice

that night at the campsite.

It floated on the lake;

a band of yellow gold,

and approached us on ripples.

Somewhat hesitant;

moving closer,

always nearing,

but not arriving

on the quiet shore.

Anticipation

      versus

Realization.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations: 

1. & 2. Crooked Lake - Kent County - Michigan

Morning Walk

 

This evening in my library,

I think about my morning walk.

Along the curving edge

of this hilly hay field;

windrows drying in the sun;

inhaling the perfect aroma.

Then across our gravel road

to the north shore 

of McCarthy Lake.

I stepped softly to the end

of the old wooden dock,

avoiding little clumps

of dried muskrat dung.

I admire the flexible reeds,

projecting from calm water,

arching into their reflections.

Standing, watching, breathing,

waiting for something to happen.

A sudden slosh

from the edge of the thick cattails.

Too loud, too large to be a fish.

An OTTER !

First one I've seen

in my twenty-three years here.

Showing his teeth,

showing the bullhead

he just captured

from the shallows.

Rising above the surface,

looking back at me,

showing surprise

at my otter surprise.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

2. & 3. McCarthy Lake - Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

Summer Poem

 

Vibrant poppies of scarlet orange

burst out of their capsules

ready to smooth out

their soft wrinkles.

Honey Locusts display their

curled clusters of white flasks

to perfume this June afternoon.

Deep green lily pads

carpet the lake shallows.

Thick and glossy;

floating solar collectors.

Pastel stalks of wheat;

feathered and filigreed,

reach for the summery sun.

Is now the time

to open the door

and look for your own

summer poem?

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Home Garden - Cannonsburg, Michigan

2. Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

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

4. Home Fields - Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

5. Vergennes Township - Kent County - Michigan

blue

 

liquid to solid

blue ripples into crystals

water into ice

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

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

Diamonds

 

The lake can amplify the sky,

indicate the wind's direction,

intensify the sun's blinding glare,

and separate the sun's light

into thousands of flashing diamonds.

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: McCarthy Lake - Kent County - Michigan