Yesterday afternoon, as I was wandering through the woods enjoying the warm weather, I was jolted by the sound of a crow. This experience inspired me to write this haiku:
a crow calls in flight the silence has been broken it's time to head home
It turns out that the haiku is the perfect form of poetry to capture this type of experience. This three-line, brief form of poetry often focuses on images of nature and emphasizes simplicity and direct expression.
Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828), Yosa Buson (1716-1784), and Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902) are often called the early masters of the haiku. Below are a few examples of their haiku about crows.
Basho’s Crows
on a withered brach a crow is perched an autumn evening
why does it head to the market at year's-end? a flying crow
Issa’s Crows
mocking the farmer plowing, the strutting crow
entrusting the thicket to the field crow... the lark sings
Buson’s Crow
they end their flight one by one-- crows at dusk
Shiki’s Crow
why does it head to the market at year's-end? a flying crow
Robert Frost’s Crow
Robert Frost (1874–1963) was an American poet who is known for depictions of rural life. Frost didn’t write haiku. However, he did write this short poem that has a crow as one of its main characters.
“Dust of Snow” by Robert Frost
The way a crow Shook down on me The dust of snow From a hemlock tree Has given my heart A change of mood And saved some part Of a day I had rued.
Emily Dickinson’s Crow
Emily Dickinson (1830–1886) was an American poet who often incorporated nature into her poetry. In this poem, the crow also plays an important role.
“Fame is a fickle food” (1702) by Emily Dickinson
Fame is a fickle food Upon a shifting plate Whose table once a Guest but not The second time is set Whose crumbs the crows inspect And with ironic caw Flap past it to the Farmer’s corn Men eat of it and die
Want to support our work? Visit the Naturalist Weekly bookstore and browse our curated lists of books of poetry and haiku. Or pick up a gift card that can be used throughout the store.
Naturalist Weekly accepts donations for coffee and journals
Naturalist Weekly 
Lyrical, tender, and passionate.
Thanks! I am glad that you enjoyed it.
Great article, great recommendation. I have come to believe in stretching some of the conventions regarding haiku, mainly anthropogenic in nature. I would love to start a conversation with you about the genre.
Hi Rodolfo, Thanks for your comment. I am just starting to learn about the history and the conventions of haiku. I would be happy to hear about your thoughts regarding anthropogenic and anthropomorphism in haiku.
I think you are correct that communing with nature, even for just an hour, instills a desire to express it in writing in some way…and the haiku is perfect to express that moment. Thanks for a thoughtful post on the subject and introducing Matsuo Bashō…..its a pleasure.
Hi Judy, Thank you for the comment and I am glad that you found the information about Basho helpful. Be Well,
Really enjoyed that post! As it happens, I am hoping to use the Basho poem about spring in my current Work in Progress!
Hi Dianne, I am glad you enjoyed this and I would be interested in reading your post when it is done. If I don’t see it, feel free to share the link. Thanks for visiting and be well!
Beautiful 😍
A really great read, thank you 🙏
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment.
Crows feature regularly in modern English language haiku:
two crows
flying into dusk
my ill-wishes
(Shot Glass Journal)
winter rain
on the crow’s beak
droplets of night
(Open Journal of Arts and Letters)
dwindling light
a crow shadows me
from the dolmen
(Presence Haiku Magazine issue 70)
Hi John, Thanks so much for adding your work to this discussion! It is much appreciated. I actually have a few crow haiku in my notebook right now! Thanks again for reading and sharing.