Cage of Snow

 

The umbrella of

Queen Anne's Lace,

once vibrant with

light and grace,

now stands stiff

and browned with age,

curled inward

to form a cage.

Stems still tall and erect

holding little tufts of snow,

and within the small cage,

next year's seeds to grow.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Promise

 

A seed in the soil

is the promise of patience.

I don't mean radish seeds or beans

that kids plant in backyard gardens,

that emerge and surge into green;

flourishing by the next full moon.

Rather, acorns, hickory nuts,

samaras from maples,

hard seeds of Black Cherry.

Young saplings that will achieve

the height of the parent trees

decades after we're gone.

That's a promise.

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Fallasburg Park - Lowell, Michigan

2. Wabasis Lake Park - Michigan

3. & 4. Lowell Township - Kent County - Michigan

Baptized

Silent as seeds
from the soil,
words emerge;

baptized
like a sacrament,

inside the soothing song
of this soft spring rain.

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

2. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado

Rainsong

Words emerge,
silent as seeds

germinating
from fertile soil.

Baptized
like a sacrament

inside the song
of this soft spring rain.

Stirring new life
into hibernating senses.

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Amboy, Illinois

2. Kent County, Michigan

3. Alamosa, Colorado

4. Home Fields - Cannonsburg, Michigan

Seeds of Worship

The life inserted
into these trees
began as small seeds:

acorns, samaras,
nuts of all kinds;

created in spring or autumn,
taken down by gravity,
twirling on a breeze,
stashed by animals,
fruit from the trees,

recreated each spring,
seedlings become saplings,
as seasons shift,
as years pass,

within their
seeds of worship
these trees
plant perpetual praise
into fertile soil.

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. The Havenga Farm - Grand Rapids Township - Kent County - Michigan

2. Wabasis Lake Park - Kent County - Michigan 

3. & 4. Findlay Cemetery - Ada Township - Kent County - Michigan

5. Boulder Creek Golf Club - Kent County - Michigan

Filaments of Silver

From inside these
concave containers,
gray and brittle,
pale purses hold
filaments of silver,
iridescent in sunlight,
waiting their turn
to escape
on the wind.

Waiting to carry
with patience,
the flattened seeds,
chestnut brown,
to a new setting,
with wind
their escort,
with time
their ally.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Canon Township - Kent County - Michigan 

Winter Fields

The simplicity of snow
levels these winter fields
that wait in frozen patience.

Fields ready to
believe in the promise
residing within the dark soil.

Fields that welcome
the planting of seeds
to hold and nurture.

Fields longing for
the baptism of
warm spring showers.

Fields anticipating
the germination and
resurrection of new life.

Fields prepared for
the return of growth,
truth, and acceptance.

Fields eventually offering
a bountiful harvest of
abundant blessings.

© 2015 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1 & 2 Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 - Grattan Township, Kent County, Michigan

The Promise III

Milkweed seeds
suspended
from fine, 
silvery threads.

Parachutes of promise
in an aerial dance
to a destination
unknown.

Unknown,
even by the wind
that carries
them.

The promise was made
for a chance
to live life,
to give life.

The opportunity
to accept,
and possibly
sacrifice.

©  2014  Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy:

The Promise - May 19, 2013

The Promise II - July 2, 2014

Photo Locations:

1. 2. & 5. Grand River Nature Area  (GRNA)  Ada/Cascade Townships,  Kent County,  Michigan

3. Lafayette, (Lafayette) Colorado

4. Cannonsburg State Game Area, (Cannonsburg) Kent County, Michigan

A Small Act

arching out from
the tip of a twig,
on winged samaras,
future seeds wait;
small packets of hope
suspended within 
this tranquil moment.

dangling here,
collecting light,
this profusion of life,
bursting like pink fireworks,
this performance of maples,
a small act within
this repeated play,

where God is
producing and directing
the extravagance of spring.

squinting, I see
pairs of wings,
clusters of angels,
ready to dance
in the next
breath of a breeze.

©  2014  Richard Havenga

Red Maple - Acer rubrum

Photo Location:  Mom's Farm 

The Source

Into these pages
I have placed words
like seeds into the soil
of a well-prepared field;

pulled the weeds,
and watched,
prayed for rain,
and waited...

for germination and
this new spring season.
Vibrant and welcome
after a severe, relentless winter.

Now:
sprouting with encouragement,
growing with promise,
flowering with beauty.

The fruit of satisfaction
tastes better 
when sprinkled 
with recognition.

Now:
time to acknowledge
and confirm
the source of inspiration.

It is provided 
by the Holy Spirit
dwelling
within.

©  2014  Richard Havenga

Silver Sphere

A silver sphere of seeds

feels the first faint breath

of a morning breeze.

 

Waits patiently for

the afternoon wind,

or the bump

of a rabbit's foot,

or the brush

of a fox's tail;

to release these

showy, silken

parachutes
into time.

A launch 

of hope,
and faith,
carried
into the future.

Meadow Goat's Beard / Yellow Goatsbeard   (Tragopogon dubius)

Click on photo to enlarge.

Photo Location: 

Cannon Township,  (Cannon)  Kent County,  Michigan