Our fondness of birds inspires us to create art that highlights the fascinating traits of our winged muses, while at the same time contemplating life's essence.

During our writing of bird poetry, we want to focus less on our thoughts, and more on the images and processes of nature. This is why we have chosen to write haiku.

Since its emergence in Japan, the haiku has traveled the world and gained many enthusiasts, becoming one of the most widely recognizable forms of poetry. Wildlife, seasonal changes and emotions are often central topics of haiku.

The Japanese haiku has a distinct focus on onsetsu – a sound unit with a precise duration. The first phrase in a haiku contains 5 onsetsu, the second 7, and the third 5. While often times equated to a syllable, an onsetsu is different, as a syllable doesn't precisely capture the duration of a sound unit.

You might have learned that a haiku is comprised of 17 syllables, 5 on the first line, 7 on the second line, and 5 on the third line. However, as a syllable is generally longer than an onsetsu, we decided to not strictly count syllables in our haiku to better emulate the short nature of a Japanese haiku.

A haiku typically expresses what can be perceived with the senses. It is not meant to interpret, analyse or cast judgement. It usually presents two images, whose juxtaposition evokes a feeling, without prescribing what to feel.

It has been said that what is omitted in a haiku conveys as much as the words that are present. This subtlety lends it room to evolve, like a living organism. Each new recitation may reveal a previously unexplored hue or meaning. That is why reading haiku can be equally as imaginative as writing them.

What follows is a short explanation of what we had in mind when writing each bird haiku.

Chick

a charming spell
soul in the shell
sparking its carousel

Unlike the young of many other birds, chicks are up and about surprisingly quickly. As if spellbound by the charming power of existence, the chick's soul breaks out of its shell, and exuberantly starts engaging with its surroundings. This exuberance transforms life into a playground – a colorful carousel – and might inspire us to bring out our innate energy to create new possibilities and outcomes.

Crow

midnight feathered
wielding gravity
the world cracks open

Crows, with feathers as dark as the night, are known for dropping nuts from great heights to expose the edible parts. They are intelligent problem solvers, and can inspire us to consider unconventional solutions to "crack" the challenges in our life.

Duck

a plunge untamed
the lake chuckles
in blooming ripples

The playful ducks are often seen diving in the lake with a lively bottom-up plunge. Just like the wrinkles on a face blooming with a smile, the lake responds with its own wrinkles – the ripples – to this amusing act. As we interact with the world around us, this sight can inspire us to welcome joy in our life.

Eagle

the fading burden
at the horizon
wings unfazed

The eagle's ability to lift heavy prey – even up to a few times its own weight in case of the harpy eagle – never ceases to amaze. Imagine looking at the horizon, seeing an eagle slowly fade in the distance, with a burden in its talons. Taking this unfazed eagle as inspiration, we too can let go of doubt and pursue our goals with resolve.

Hummingbird

to a lily's lip
upside down I fly
life's nectar flows

The hummingbird is the only known bird species capable of flying upside-down and backwards in a sustained way. What might we learn from this fascinating bird? That, as we nurture our special talents, life also unfolds opportunities; like a lily's lip that tilts with grace, from which life's nectar flows. The nectar symbolizes life's sweet rewards that come from following one's own unique path.

Parrot

from a lively beak
my feelings echo
hearts weave a tune

When a parrot picks up on someone's mood, it may start mimicking sounds – echoing feelings, so to speak. Beyond mere playfulness, this may be from a desire to connect. Parrots form strong bonds that break barriers, potentially inspiring us to "weave" the separate hearts in the world into a universal tune.