Birdsong

Amber remembers two children under the same sky—one dreaming of flying, the other learning to hear the song.

Amber hears it again—the high, clear whistle of a white-throated sparrow. Her mother's favourite. Amber writes...

Oh Sweet Canada
White breasted lover of joy
Dry my tears with song.

Her mother carried a sadness she never shared with Amber. Like a sad song playing in another room, her soft music drifted through the house. Amber would catch a few notes but the lyrics were muffled. And when her mother's attention drifted — not often — still, Amber watched over her little brother.

Putting the pen down she closes her eyes and listens. Bird song carries her back.

One summer afternoon she sat on the porch steps while her little brother crouched in the yard. Samuel, no more than ten, held the toy binoculars to his eyes and trained them on the trees.

"What are you looking for," she had whispered.

He shook his head. "I'm learning how they do it."

"Do what?"

"Fly! The lift. The launch."

Samuel didn't care much for bird songs or colors. He wanted to learn to fly.

That summer, Samuel built a pair of cardboard wings. He stood on the low garden wall, arms wide and jumped. The landing was soft but the disappointment less so. Samuel.

This morning is quiet except for the birds. A Red-winged Blackbird calls out from the far field—conk-a-reeee!—bold, sharp, and defensive. It reminds her of Samuel. Defender of everything, even back then. Now he works for a company that designs drones for security. He's finally flying. He's still defending.

She sips her tea, listening. Then comes the sound she was hoping for: the soft whistle of a Northern Cardinal, coming from a nearby grove. Her favourite. Her bird. Its song is low and steady, vibrating through her, anchoring her day.

Different birds. Different songs. Still singing.

Sound Garden: A Listening Game

Sometimes, when life gets loud or heavy, we stop noticing the quieter sounds around us. This game invites you to practice listening again—just for fun, just for you.

It uses birdsong, a natural sound many people find soothing. For others, birdsong may carry strong memories—some welcome, some not.

Please explore only if it feels right for you. You can leave at any time.

Listen to the robin. If it feels welcoming, you’re invited to explore the rest of our listening game.

American Robin – early summer recording

Haiku Challenge

A haiku is a very short poem that captures a moment, a feeling, or something from nature. Traditional haiku have:

3 lines
5 syllables in the first line
7 syllables in the second line
5 syllables in the third line

Haiku poems often include a seasonal word and show a contrast between two images or ideas. The goal is to be simple, clear, and full of meaning—like a snapshot in words.

1. Listen to Nature

Write a haiku based on a sound you hear right now—birds, wind, rain, or even distant traffic.

A robin singing
before the light has arrived—
a promise of day.

2. One Moment Outside

Look outside. Choose one small thing you see—something moving, resting, or changing.

A leaf on water—
spinning slowly in circles
though the breeze has stopped.

3. Two People, Two Views

Imagine two people experiencing the same thing in different ways. Write their moment in three lines.

One watches the stars,
one counts flashing airplane lights—
both staring upward.

4. Seasons in You

Pick a season. Describe how it makes you feel—not just the weather, but inside you.

Late autumn morning—
I pull quiet around me
like an old sweater.

5. Something That Returns

Write about something that comes back—like a bird, a dream, a memory, or a habit.

The sparrow returns—
not the same one, but still
I know the pattern.