Morning Hours

As the autumn sun is rising,

often crimson or golden,

I'm in my writing chair

in our cozy library,

looking out the window

for new ideas, for a few

words to come together.

These few, precious hours

allow me to observe the way

the American Beech leaves

first begin to shuffle,

or the way the ambitious wind

tears the remaining  leaves

from these broad White Oaks.

Most days, these morning hours

are fruitful and fulfilling,

and I am grateful

for the enrichment

as I press pen to page,

collecting fragments;

finding my poetry.

© 2024 Richaard Havenga

Word Stones

 

These words were just pulled

out of the Kootenai River,

and they shimmer briefly

in the pure mountain light.

These precious, persistent stones,

jeweled by the summer sun.

 

The sparkle then faded,

the color was subdued,

as they dried in the air,

but the stones will last

beyond these words,

and I may never 

pass this way again.

So I chose one stone

to put in my pocket,

then into the truck,

and weeks later display

on my library shelf. 

To remember the river

and how stones

can turn into words,

and words

can turn into stone.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. 2. 3. Kootenai River - Libby, Montana

Directions to My House (in early spring)

 

You know where the creek

meanders through the small woodlot,

and enters the open meadow

where the Eastern Meadowlarks

prefer to sing each spring?

Hang a left there,

and walk through the crop field

that was in corn last fall

and soybeans the year before;

here you will hear the

Sandhill Cranes yodeling

and see them plucking invertebrates

from the saturated soil between the rows.

Then continue westerly along

the north shore of McCarthy Lake

where circles of Cinnamon Ferns

will thrive this summer.

From here you will spot a pair of Mute Swans

circling around the lake's perimeter

searching for open water.

When they land, notice their angelic wings

as the last skim of ice melts away.

Now turn north, uphill, through the field

deep with winter-matted grasses,

and follow the faint deer trail

along the east slope of the woods

until it crosses the gravel road.

You will now be under 

some splendid walnut trees.

Take your time here, 

because you need to step carefully

through the arching canes 

bearing short thorns

where I pick Wild Black Raspberries

in early July.

Take the next deer trail on the west side

of the vernal wetland, where Spring Peepers

have just begun to call

on nights when it's warm enough.

You must now ascend what was once 

our cross-country ski trail

through Red Oaks, Black Oaks,

and a few Shagbark Hickories.

As you step onto the lawn,

notice my favorite tree;

this American Beech, with leaves

that were yellow in October,

copper in December, and now appear

winter-bleached and tissue-thin.

From here, if you look northwest,

you will see me in my library

writing directions for another season.

You don't need to knock,

or even ring the doorbell.

I've been expecting you.

Please come in.

We'll talk about 

your walk.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. 2. 8. 9. & 10. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

3. Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

4. & 5. McCarthy Lake - Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

6. & 7. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

11. Home Library

The Bookmark

 

She took a random book

from his poetry collection

down from the library shelf,

and fanning through the pages,

found a bookmark he had left.

The bookmark marked

page 37 in the poetry book

by Mary Oliver titled:

Red Bird.

He had underlined these lines

from Oliver's poem titled:

"Sometimes"...

"Pay attention.

Be astonished.

Tell about it."

He did.

He was.

He told. 

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Home Library

Book Rock

In Memory of Mary Oliver (1935 ~ 2019)

When I remove this special rock
from the shoulder of the mountain,

and during the descent,
feel its weight inside my pack,

I picture it displayed
on my library shelf.

Or,

I may use its weight to hold open
a book of poems I'm reading

by Mary Oliver, William Stafford, 
Jane Kenyon, Ted Kooser,
Luci Shaw, or Dan Gerber, ...

as I sit on the bank
of this rocky river,
thinking about its source.

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. Home Library - Cannonsburg, 

3. Elk River - Steamboat Springs, Colorado