Haiku/Tanka:
A heron stands still
yellow eyes fixed on its prey
an eel unaware
bulrushes sway in the breeze
as the spectacle unfolds.
Chirps getting louder
with one atop the other
both perched on a twig
flutter of colorful wings
in joyous mood of mating.
A squawk wild flapping
feathered fans beat the spring air
time to breed they sing
I watch the v formation
gathering to journey on.
Dancers in the sky,
moving with grace in the wind,
hunting to survive
freedom is the will to fly,
ascending to the heavens.
tweet, tweet, tweet birds sing
high above treetops, build nest
eats insects below
sitting at window watching
lost in my thoughts with nature.
A squawk wild flapping
feathered fans beat the spring air
time to breed they sing
I watch the v formation
gathering to journey on.
The Humming birds perch
each atop wing of a Goose
getting a free ride
together the flock migrates
in a harmonious flight
Some birds in the farm,
the proud rooster and the hens
seldom venture far
they provide the eggs and meat
for humans to cook and eat
Twittering swallows
shadows riding on the moon
at the crack of dawn
busy feeding their hatchlings
long summer days on the wing
Birds flock in tall grass
weeds sprouting, yellow blossoms
blue birds, red birds eat
grass in my backyard uncut
a deers family appeared
Stirring in their nest
pruning feathers on their quills
robins venture skies
donned in colorful costumes
they flirt to seek out a mate
Tweets and chirps echo
their glee and joy at mating
intimately
nestling close in cozy warmth
celebrating alliance
Gliding on thermals
wide wings spread never beating
with eyes turned downward
search goes on for prey today
none with vultures wish to play
A cormorant dives,
pursuing tasty sweet-fish
bubbles in it’s wake
stretching out its long black wings
it rests in the summer sun
Scarlet faced spoonbills
eager to eat, wings flapping
fish are a plenty
big fish in beak she takes flight
to the cliffs beneath the skies
White egrets descend
snatching fish from the shallows
catfish join the feast
eagles launch from the tree tops
their talons poised and ready
Brooding in silence
two Swans neck by a lake shore
forming a sweet heart
gentle ripples around them
iconic of mute romance
A noisy hornbill
alarmed, squawking in panic
as spotty leopard
When the leopard gets closer
it spreads its wings and flies off
The male ground hornbill
busy repairing his nest
mum feeds the young ones
he catches the juicy frogs
but she dishes out the food
The lily trotter
walking across the pond leaves
her partner at home
he worries over the chicks
protecting them from danger
Coauthors:
Mand
Alidzain
Barbara
Ian.
Raj
Stan
Comments
A great achievement,
as a I said on the senryu version, it gladdens my heart to see poets collaborating, we are too often alone.
My only problem with both is the use of the word "twerp". It is a good onomatopoeic word but unfortunately in Aussie and English slang it translates as 'idiot'.
Jess
what would you suggest.
Jess
I change the word twerp to tweet. birds are not twerps or idiots lol.
turkeys
the spring woods thunder
from his mating call today
as he struts and putts
but come November feasting
he will silence his calling
Stan
This is a great one I live.
Barbara
Thank you for your compilation of this Renga, and I had a double mention lol.
I checked to see if it was the chorus but no maybe a one of error.
Take care out there Yours Ian.T..
Just for extra Info:-
Only read this today, and as Jess said Twerp is an old English slang word not used much today and means a silly or stupid person.
When I was a child it was still used in the Wiltshire dialect but now with TV English for all those years, many of these words have disappeared.
I have two great books from the US of A printed in 1937 they are books on Slang words and are very informative:-
Twerp.. An "unpleasant" or "objectionable" or "foolish" or "soft"
person (Not usually female) from 1910, mentioned in the write,
Percy Brown, Blind Alleys, 1934, he was an entertainer from Norfolk County UK probably the original type singing milkman.
Ian.
Thanks for the understanding of the words. Don't want a bird calling other birds Twerp.. An "unpleasant" or "objectionable" or "foolish" or "soft" "silly"
Thanks, for enlightening me.