Birdsong

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

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

Ruth taught Anna to listen for birds – a tradition Ruth grew up with. Ruth is passing the tradition on to her children – Linda and Kevin. Ruth invited everyone to choose a favourite bird. Anna too. Anna played along. She chose the cardinal.

Anna scans the trees and spies her bird. Bright red wings against the pale blue morning sky. So easy to spot, Anna thinks.

Anna chose a bird in memory of her mother too - the white-throated sparrow. This choice she keeps to herself. Anna listens for its clear whistle but only hears the sad cooing of a far-off mourning dove. Maybe she should have chosen the dove for her mother. Her mother carried a sadness she never shared with Anna. Like a sad song playing in another room, her sadness sometimes drifted through the house. Anna would catch a few notes. And if her mother's attention drifted — not often — still, Anna watched over her little brother Samuel.

Anna closes her eyes. A light breeze blows through her hair. She remembers watching Samuel in the garden. Samuel, no more than six, held the toy binoculars to his eyes and trained them on the trees.

"What are you looking for?" Anna had whispered.

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

"Do what?"

"Fly!"

Samuel didn't care much for birdsong or colours. He wanted to learn to fly. That summer, Samuel built a pair of cardboard wings and glued them to his shirt. 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. Samuel’s bird. How fitting. Now Samuel works for a company that designs security drones. He's finally flying.

The morning sun breaks over the trees, and the soft glow warms her face just as it once did in their little garden. Her mother always told them, “Use your head. Share your heart.”

And so, they both do in their own ways. Anna and Samuel. Different birds. Different songs.

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.