Bird + Haiku = Birdku
Even though I’ve hiked the trails in Palos Verdes countless times, it’s rare that I see a bird that’s new to me. When I saw this feathered friend relaxing on a branch, it felt like I’d stumbled upon hidden treasure.
I stopped and stared at him in stillness and silence, appreciating the gift of fleeting moments before he flew away. I’ll never forget his vibrant yellow and black markings, but I had to memorize the shape of his beak and tail feathers so I’d have enough data to identify him at home from the pages of my Peterson Field Guide to Birds.
I also knew it was a haiku moment. As I continued my hike, I walked and counted syllables on my fingers like a playful child. By the time I got to my car, I had the first two lines of my haiku for the day.
a reason to stop
on the steep part of my hike:
When I got home, my field guide gave me his true identity and the perfect last line:
Lawrences’s Warbler!
Your Turn: How to Write Your Own BirdKU
Composing Notes
Often, I jot any phrase that comes to mind on the left side of my journal. I think of this page as a playground, not caring whether my first words fit the syllable pattern. This page gets messy with scratched-out words as I figure out how to fit my phrases into five and seven syllables. It’s a fun poetry puzzle.
Most often, I snap a photo on my phone and compose haiku within the Instagram app (I’m @lorrie_stories if you want to see samples). I don’t worry about curating artful shots. I do it quickly, but it adds another dimension to my words and the composing experience.
I’m pretty forgiving of my daily haiku. They don’t have to be masterpieces and I don’t need deep bird knowledge. I just love the process of writing them. If I end up creating one that sounds particularly fabulous, it’s a bonus day.
Savor Your Birdwatching and Writing Moments
The process puts me in a composing state of mind which the sweet spot for writers. Creating a haiku is like cleaning out a jumbled drawer of ideas and ending up with an observation or idea that’s pared down to seventeen syllables—doable writing that’s a break from the daily chaos of our lives. I’ve also learned that writing haiku about my days, whether they include birds or not, is a sustainable memory-keeping method. And that’s a bonus I adore.
A Haiku Writing Opportunity for You!
For ten days in April, I’m hosting an annual haiku writing challenge. It’s the perfect way to bring haiku joy to you and your entire family. Learn all about it HERE.
In the meantime, please make my day and share your birdKU in the comments below. I can’t wait to read your words!
NOTE: Haiku is an ancient and honored tradition. Haiku masters do not follow the 5-7-5 syllable pattern, and there are very specific and nuanced rules for writing haiku that I simplify for my haiku writing purposes. If you’d like to learn about “official” haiku guidelines, I share these in daily emails when I host an annual haiku writing challenge in April. It’s perfect for the entire family.