Long Road

 in memory of Aaron Havenga (April 2, 1975 ~ November 20, 1994)

The long pain of grief

cannot be ignored,

but after twenty-nine years,

it can be absorbed;

endured by a gracious heart

and a long life of gratitude

for continued blessings

down this long road

I did not choose.

I no longer wander around

like a lost child, but

walk forward firmly in faith,

powered by a brave heart.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: 

Centennial, Wyoming

each other

"You and I have memories, longer than the road that stretches out ahead." 
~ Paul McCartney © 1970 ~ Beatles


For my loving wife Mary:

I'm trying to tell here,
of the way we share
the sunlight of our days,
the moon white of our nights,

traveling miles of back roads together,

hiking rugged trails of discovery,
enduring painful storms of loss,

the way we can still pull joy
from ordinary moments
of this extraordinary life.

Laughter, learning,

and love that lasts.

The gifts we find
in our selves
to give each other. 

© 2016 Richard Havenga

♪♪ Happy Birthday ♪♪ Mary !

Photo Locations:

1. West Elk Wilderness - Gunnison National Forest - Colorado  

2. Crested Butte, Colorado

3. "Angel's Landing" trail - Zion National Park - Utah 

4. Iroquois County, Illinois

5. Mary on deck - Home

6. Mary on "Birthday Bike" - Home

7. Rich & Mary- Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming 

Construction

looking back
down the road
recently traveled; 
the road whose edges
have softened and crumbled,

will today's moments 
hold fast
if I concentrate the words,
form them, like rocks, 
into concrete sentences,

mortar the memories
into a durable structure
to contain what I feel
building in my mind,
my heart, my soul?

©  2016  Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1.   Medicine Bow Mountains - Wyoming 

2. San Francisco Mountains - Luna, New Mexico 

3. Cannonsburg, Michigan

Inhale

When fields grow thick
with  green alfalfa
and begin to to flower in mid-June;

when juicy stems 
of timothy grass
raise tall tufts of pastel;

when the sweet scent
of freshly-cut hay
lies drying in sunny windrows;

that's when we shall walk again
on these remote, rural roads
and inhale the memories.

© 2015 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Lowell Township - Kent County, Michigan

2. Franciscan Life Process Center -Lowell, Michigan

3. Grattan Township - Kent County, Michigan

4. Canon Township - Kent County, Michigan

Why We Live Here

Here are two reasons why we love to live on our "Natural Beauty Road":

 

Eastbound Lane.

 

 

 

Westbound Lane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please view: "Why We Live Here - 2" - Oct. 16, 2013 

 

 

Check out all the "Natural Beauty Roads" in Michigan, by using this Directory from the Michigan DNR: 

 

Natural Beauty Roads

 

 

 

 

Photo Location:  Kent County,  Michigan

 



Photo Haiku - Arizona

gentle slopes grow steep

horses graze in yellowed grass

hope for rain from clouds

spined circular pads

purple-red fruits bulge from rim

Prickly Pear Cactus

industrious bird

drilled the holes,  filled them with nuts

Acorn Woodpecker

strong Christian symbol

this cross is formed of granite

solid as my faith

columns of sharp spines

ridges, furrows, and shadows

Saguaro close-up

a fork in the road

the decision won't take long

take the least traveled

Arizona Photo Locations:

1. Huachuca Mountains (Huachuca Mountains)
2. Molino Canyon (Molino Canyon)
3. Ramsey Canyon (Ramsey Canyon)
4. Sabino Canyon (Sabino Canyon)
5. Saguaro National Park (Saguaro Nat. Park) - East
6. Ash Canyon (Ash Canyon)