Weaving Daylight

 

They're created overnight,

in the calm darkness,

these exquisite orbs of silk.

Concentric circles

strengthened by 

radiating strands.

A spectrum of rainbowed streaks

shimmering in the morning sun.

Arachne weaving daylight.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve Estero, Florida

2. Home Fields - Cannonsburg, Michigan

First Breath of Morning

 

Filaments of song

are strung along

the strands 

of spider silk.

Can you possibly imagine

the sound it creates

when the first breath of morning

plays its strings like a harp?

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - Naples, Florida

Stringed Instrument

Is it possible,
do you think,
to hear the breeze
pass through
the fine, silken threads
of a spider web?

If so,
what would it sound like?
Certainly there must be
some kind of vibration.
A very subtle tone.
A quiet music.

If only we could discern it. 

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - Naples, Florida

2.  Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming

Music from the String Section

When the morning breeze
plays the spider silk
like a rainbow harp,

what notes are played
but not heard?

How many microns
of silvered filaments

are required for
this sacred music

to create what
only angels and saints
can hear? 

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Dixon, Illinois

winds calm

winds calm from the north

morning dew shines like diamonds

geometric silk

© 2019 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Big Crooked Lake - Kent County - Michigan

Galaxy

A galaxy of silk.

A geometric pattern
designed and created
to capture prey,

and my attention.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Six Mile Cypress Slough & Preserve - Fort Myers, Florida

2. Snake River - Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming

silk and dew

get down in the grass

to see these superhighways

made of silk and dew

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Grattan Township - Kent County, Michigan 

silk and dew

get down in the grass

to see these magic highways

silver silk and dew

© 2017 Richard Havenga

patience

you, the patient one,

please count the silver jewels

on this dome of dew

© 2015 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Ada Township - Kent County, Michigan

Temporary Jewels

A single stalk of autumn grass,
heavy with ripened seeds,
holds the temporary home
of an unknown spider.

Its meticulous labor 
performed overnight.

At dawn it becomes
the domed receptacle
for an infinite number
of minuscule particles;
radiant and brilliant,
visible vapor.

A thousand points of light.
Temporary jewels.
Memorable gifts.  

© 2016 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Ada Township, Kent County, Michigan

dome

miracle fibers

an overnight sensation

dome of morning dew

opening

riding the raft of sleep
into the pearly light of dawn,
being introduced and welcomed
to this fresh new day...

hope rising with the sun
eyelids opening to 
the opening of this day
to the opening door

the tender opening leaves
of American Beech
the soft opening petals
of Round-leaved Hepatica

dew pearls strung 
along a geometry of silk
at the opening of morning
evaporating with time

the mind opening
to imagine
the heart
opening to display
gratitude for this day.

© 2015 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 4. Snake River - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming 

2. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan 

3. Townsend Park  - Kent County, Michigan

Architectural Questions

From the inside, follow the spiraling silk 
around the circular architecture.
Notice the perfect spacing,
the radiating bands, tightening.
Some strands are sticky, some are not. 
Concentric rings? No, not exactly.

The sculptor 
of this amazing sculpture
produces liquid silk, 
from silk-producing glands,
becoming solid in the air.

Spinnerets spin fine silk 
only .15 microns in diameter.
The silk is strong, yet elastic. 
Can stretch 30% to 40% before it breaks.

How long to achieve this geometric perfection?
Overnight? Several hours?
Do you find the spider industrious?
Are you impressed by the web's functionality?
Fascinated by scientific explanation?
Is all this intricacy necessary?
Do you still find it miraculous ?

©  2014  Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - (Corkscrew) National Audubon Center, 
Naples, (Naples) Florida (Florida) 

2. Snake River, Oxbow Bend - Grand Teton National Park, (Teton) Wyoming (Wyoming) 



micron:

Vibration

strand of spider silk

vibrating in dawn's first breath

colors multiply

©  2014  Richard Havenga

You may also enjoy: "Angel's Harp" - July, 2013

Click on photo to enlarge.

Photo Location:  Home Woods

The Vessel

 

 Observe this intricate weaving:

 

This insect-trapping snare.

This delicate dish of silken threads.

This vessel of water molecules.

This string of magnificent jewels.

This symmetrical basket of mist.

This collection of diamonds upon the earth.

 

Who could possibly determine their worth? 

© 2013 Richard Havenga

 

 

 

 



 Photo Location:

 

Snake River,  Grand Teton National Park,  (Tetons)  Wyoming  (Wyoming)

 

 

 

 

 

 



"Angel's Harp"

The first breeze of morning,
soft as a bird's breathing,
strokes these silken strands.

Vibrant filaments of light,
a pulsing spectrum of color, 
rainbows in silent vibration.

Can you begin to imagine
the holy notes of praise
being played upon this
delicate angel's harp?

© 2013 Richard Havenga



Photo Location:

Rock River,  Dixon,  Illinois