How to become a translator
of the language
of moving water:
Be out there, listening,
with ears that hear,
and a feeling of gratitude.
Understand that it cannot
be interpreted using mere words;
but expressed only with
a receptive heart
and a grateful awareness
of your current blessings.
© 2026 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado
2. Payette River - Idaho
This is a hallowed land.
A sacred place,
consecrated by
the holy waters
of this mountain stream.
Where words rush by
in mystical motion.
Incomprehensible.
Inscrutable,
yet profound.
© 2026 Richard Havenga
Photo Location: Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado
I approach this mountain stream
with deep respect and admiration.
Walking upstream,
along the boulder-strewn bank,
accented with spruce
and Ponderosa Pines.
The sound of rushing water
is like a friend coming toward me;
it flows with companionship,
that I currently need more of.
I keep watching and waiting,
until it's time to move on.
© 2026 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Payette River - McCall, Idaho
2. Elk River - Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Enchanted by mountain streams,
I sit in my camp chair
and watch the Blackfoot River
flowing past Ponderosa Pines,
carrying water music to my ears.
On the high slopes,
Aspens whisper secrets
between branches of trembling leaves.
I wait with patience
for some suitable words to appear.
Words worthy of mountain streams
lined with Aspen and Ponderosa.
© 2026 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Blackfoot River - Greenough, Montana
2. La Plata Mountains - Colorado
When we decide to slow down,
to leave the phone at home,
and go outdoors to engage in
intentional listening,
we will be practicing
the concept of yutori.
And we will be rewarded
as we contemplate
our life space,
and express gratitude to God
for our experiences outdoors.
A soft breeze whispering through
the fine needles of White Pine.
Birdsong streaming from
the density of green woods.
The rapids of a mountain stream
rushing over rocks, splashing boulders.
The faint chirp of crickets
on a late summer evening.
Gifts we can give ourselves.
When we decide to listen.
© 2026 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. White Pine - Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan
2. Indigo Bunting - Cannonsburg State Game Area - Kent County - Michigan
3. Taylor River - Gunnison County - Colorado
It's difficult to translate
the meaning of words
the mountain stream carries
as it hurries through the canyon;
bashing big boulders,
splashing through the rapids.
Elsewhere, the poetry of water slows
and swirls into clear pools;
transparent with nuance,
tranquil with meaning.
I kneel for a closer look.
Fine grasses and golden sky light
reflect on the smooth surface.
Through the clear lens of water
I examine the bottom of the pool
and read in the rippled sand
the words collected there:
Slow down. Be still.
Observe the smallest
contours of creation.
But this poem
does not end
here.
© 2026 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado
2. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado
3. Santa Catalina Mountains - Arizona
Among the gratuitous
gifts of winter:
A large, rounded Cottonwood
feathered in frost.
Racks and stacks of firewood,
cured to be burned for our warmth.
Dark bones of trees stretch
long arms into cold air.
Ice Bells suspended
above Bear Creek.
Loyal Northern Cardinals
bringing vibrant color to snowy days.
The dim glow of January sun
trying to melt persistent icicles.
The snow falling through
December's silent night.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. McCarthy Lake - Kent County - Michigan
2, 3, 6, & 7. Home Yard & Home Woods
4. & 5. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan
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
You are that leaf
freshly fallen
onto the small stream.
Floating first on smooth water,
then riding the ripples
above a bed of pebbles,
then over rocks
and rising rapids
to be churned and turned
and twisted underwater.
At last settling
near a sidebank
in a festival of colors
where your
autumn gold attitude
still reflects the sun.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Grand River - Knapp Street Bridge - Kent County, Michigan
2. Page Creek - Fallasburg Park - Kent County - Michigan
3. Bear Creek - Townsend Park - Kent County - Michiagn
The farther up this trail I go,
the fewer people I see,
until I'm in the company of quiet.
Until I reach this rushing stream
and sit on a boulder to listen
to the talking waters.
Studying the current
rolling over rocks,
bending around boulders.
Silver veins of water
tumbling in turmoil,
falling freely with grace.
Until these words
flow into lines
of liquid poetry.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Location: Yellowstone National Park
The interior voice keeps rising,
slowly, like bubbles flowing below
the thin ice of a winter stream.
Ready to emerge and be heard,
or to be read and concurred.
The poet keeps writing,
the words keep rising,
hoping to be released.
© 2025 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations: Bear Creek - Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan
He sat on a log
on the gravelly bank
of the mountain stream,
in quiet contemplation.
Listening to the talking waters.
Studying the current
roll over rocks,
bend around boulders.
Until it flowed
into writing
that pleased
his soul.
© 2024 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Taylor River - Almont, Colorado
2. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado
God speaks to me without words:
In the spectacular inflorescence
of dependable, seasonal wildflowers.
The mist blowing off
the crest of ocean waves.
Through the sweet songs of birds
unraveled effortlessly.
The music playing in the rapids
of a rushing mountain stream.
The atmospheric light
dancing with sky, clouds and rain.
Beauty in nature is not essential,
it's God's voice within gifts of creation.
© 2024 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan
2. Sanibel Island - Florida
3. Cannonsburg State Game Area - Kent County - Michigan
4. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado
5. Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming
He loved to walk
along mountain streams;
upstream.
And stop often
to sit on a boulder
and listen to the water rush.
And to watch
the bold current splash
against pure light.
To look upstream
at the future
coming at him.
Or look downstream
at the past
beyond change.
Sometimes he would gather
flat, rounded rocks
to build a cairn.
His mind concentrated
on structural design,
balance and stability.
It all brought real comfort
and genuine contentment
to his mountain soul.
This is where he belonged.
© 2024 Richard Havenga
Photo Location:
Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado
Like the pull of the earth
on a compass needle,
he was drawn in all directions
to explore diverse geographies.
Mountains, plains, deserts.
Rivers, lakes, streams.
Atlantic, Pacific, Great Lakes.
North, South, East, West.
Encouraged by desire.
Motivated to travel.
Restored by hope.
Inspired by the Spirit.
Every road trip,
all the hiking trails,
each photo excursion,
made him feel alive.
Born to be
a "ramblin' man".
Always leaving,
always gone.
© 2023 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Home Deck
2. Florence, Arizona
3. Lake Michigan - Grand Haven, Michigan
4. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado
5. Atlantic Ocean - Sunset Beach - North Carolina
6. Sandhill Cranes - Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge - New Mexico
Does fluency flow more freely
during the dark, silent night
than during the glare of daylight?
Are words more keenly felt
along musical mountain streams
than by broad, brown rivers?
I volunteer to be the poet
to evaluate various writing opportunities
in a variety of outdoor locations.
Here I go...
© 2022 Richard Havenga
Photo Location: Blackfoot River - Missoula, Montana
Wading in the residue
of this world we now live in,
I try to keep my focus
on the world outdoors.
I much prefer wading in
clear mountain streams
than the digital streaming
on the flooded internet.
Wading the shallows
of lakes and rivers,
Great Blue Herons survive
on patience and persistence.
God, please grant me these traits,
as I watch and witness
with wonder and gratitude
your countless gifts of creation.
© 2022 Richard Havenga
Photo Locations:
1. Clark Fork River - Montana
2. Rogue River - Rockford, Michigan
3. Blackfoot River - Missoula, Montana
