Home » Poems » Alison A Smith nee Howarth » lyrebird

Alison A Smith nee Howarth - Premium Member

Notes About The Poem

Written 20 June, 2026 for a bird haiku set of two - nature themed poetry contest sponsored by Tania Kitchin

When walking in the Australian bush the sounds of many birds , chainsaws, diesel engines or even cameras clicking can be heard emanating from one spot, that will be a Suberb Lyrebird. I have included their native call used in territorial disputes. There is also a link to David Attenborough's encounter.

Listen to poem:

https://youtu.be/VjE0Kdfos4Y?si=Ab6mSadtW1A_SmXg

lyrebird

forest oracle
lyre-tail fanned in forest light
leaf-scratching lyrebird

undergrowth mimic
sound archivist of forest
echoes dawn’s chorus

birdmusichaiku

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Paul Andrews

July 4, 2026 at 7:18 PM

Congratulations, Alison on this poem. I used to love hearing a lyrebird (along with the black cockatoos) in the Sherbrooke Forest when I lived in Melbourne in the 90’s. Cheers, Paul.

Alison A Smith nee Howarth

July 4, 2026 at 7:36 PM

Their sound echoes through gullies all up the Eastern Coast.

Paula Goldsmith

July 4, 2026 at 8:29 AM

Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed reading. What a great picture here. Thanks for added note. Have a blessed day with your win................

Alison A Smith nee Howarth

July 4, 2026 at 3:35 PM

Thank you Paula. The picture was taken by my husband while we where walking in the Australian bush.

Tania Kitchin

July 4, 2026 at 6:46 AM

Alison, congratulations on your winning placement with your wonderful haiku set.

Alison A Smith nee Howarth

July 4, 2026 at 6:57 AM

Thank you Tania, that was my very first one. Thank you for sponsoring and judging

Sara Kendrick

July 1, 2026 at 6:45 PM

I enjoyed reading this one today. It read like a good contender for the contest to me. Way to go. Thank you for sharing it with us. Since my computer has no sound I can't hear it, but it must be something like our Mockingbird which makes a large number of calls, but they say the calls are all their own calls. Of course, I don't if they are or aren't. Sara K.

Alison A Smith nee Howarth

July 1, 2026 at 6:59 PM

The audio is of the lyrebirds own song, it can also mimic any sound it hears. These sounds are also taught to their young. Truly a marvelous bird.

the barefoot bard

June 27, 2026 at 9:53 PM

Alison A Smith nee Howarth

June 28, 2026 at 12:53 AM

Thank you Douglas. We often here them when walking in our local forest.

the barefoot bard

June 27, 2026 at 9:55 PM

Long time since I heard a lyrebird in remnant bush land on the farm The male tail is exquisite Well penned Blessings Douglas

Paige Hind

June 25, 2026 at 4:30 PM

breathtaking <3

Alison A Smith nee Howarth

June 25, 2026 at 4:34 PM

They are amazing birds.

Joe Maverick

June 22, 2026 at 9:14 PM

Yes Alison that dear, lyrebird such a Carachter in the bushscape i used to Get surprised a those telephone rings And some other noises they must be Quick to absorb sound.' Its a hazy thought but i think i remenber doorbell Chimes.? Yet they would only rarely get That close to suburbs.' Or how acute is Their hearing across distance.? Maybe Taken from tv sounds also.? I am thinking of the bush silence now it can Be like a mighty wall looming All the Best have a sit on the black stump For me.'

Alison A Smith nee Howarth

June 22, 2026 at 11:08 PM

The best time with the calls we have had is one winter when the snow had just started to fall everything was silent and out of this silence came baby birds, diesel engines cranking over to start, and other sounds that could not be heard at this time of the year it was awesome. I drove past the Dog on the Tuckerbox yesterday.

Gershon Wolf

June 20, 2026 at 9:43 PM

I especially like the rhyme of 'forest' and 'chorus.' Nice!

Alison A Smith nee Howarth

June 20, 2026 at 9:54 PM

Thank you Gershon

Moon Harp

June 20, 2026 at 6:51 PM

Alison, thanks for the recording of the lyre bird sounds. So cool, and so is this double haiku. "sound archivist of the forest" great line. Moon Harp

Alison A Smith nee Howarth

June 20, 2026 at 6:56 PM

Thank you moon. The video link above the poem is David Attenborough showing of the lyrebird's talents and wonderful lyre tail.

Thomas Wells

June 20, 2026 at 4:19 PM

To my knowledge, I have never encountered this bird. Your haiku brings it to life! Thank you for sharing.

Alison A Smith nee Howarth

June 20, 2026 at 4:36 PM

The lyrebird is Australian only. They are a phenomenal mimic of the sounds around them. The learnt sounds are passed on to the young, so you sometimes hear machine sounds that would no longer be heard where the bird is. We call them tractors because they spend all day scratching through the leaf litter for food. This action helps turn the soil and encourage more plant growth.

Andrea Dietrich

June 20, 2026 at 10:56 AM

I like how you focused on the bird's sound and put up a recording of it. It's cool that you called it a forest oracle. I think the last line of haiku 2 is really poetic. Very nicely done.

Alison A Smith nee Howarth

June 20, 2026 at 2:26 PM

For a first time ever i am quietly proud of it

lyrebird

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