The poets featured here are currently incarcerated, and many of them are in federal prisons far from home. Your feedback is a valuable source of motivation and connection to the outside community. Post your comments, feedback, and encouragement in the space below the poem. Messages will be passed on directly to the author. Comments may not appear immediately on the site, as our team processes them to mail to the poets.
Hi JS,
Wow, I’m speechless. It’s so simple but it says so much. It reminds of the movie The Shawshank Redemption. I hope you have a chance to see this movie. Please continue writing and sharing your gift with the world.
JS,
This is a beautiful haiku. Thank you for sharing it. I love how you connect freedom with the bird symbolism. Keep writing!
KC
This small short poem says so much in such little words which I think is what makes it so special, Connecting freedom to the sound of the birds I feel as if its such a simple thing but it has such a strong meaning.
Hello JS, when I read your haiku, I felt very Emotionally moved. To me this poem represents the phrase a little says a lot, and I know haikus are supposed to be short in length but I’m talking about the vivid language being used in such a short context. When you say I hear the birds so many memories relapse in my mind of many different experiences I’ve had when hearing the same sound. When reading this poem I get a sense of motivation, a sense of curiosity, a sense of determination, a combination of all these different feelings just clustered together. When I think of nature, I feel freedom does go with nature like peanut butter goes with jelly. Nature is such a beautiful, chaotic, unpredictable, and uncontrollable environment that everything that lives within nature we associate with having the most freedom we know anything to have. Especially birds like you mentioned. And I’ve noticed we associate birds with freedom the most out of all the animals because they can fly and honestly go wherever they please. And to me including that with that comparison being made as a reader really cuts me deep and just pulls me into this poem. This piece of writing truly could be interpreted many ways which is what I really like about this piece of work. However, I will have to say I feel no matter who encounters this poem they’ll always feel that push of motivation and rush of adrenaline that is displayed between your sentences. Thank you for sharing this amazing Haiku.
I wish you the best! – Aaliyah!
I love how you used the 5 senses in your haiku! A good way to improve it is to add 2 more syllables to your second and third line!
Hi! This is a great example of a Haiku poem that resembles a strong meaning. As this poem discusses the correlation between birds, or nature, and its relation to freedom, it is a great comparison. As a child, I always loved writing Haiku poems since I felt like it was a way to turn quick thoughts into an art of poetry.
Haikus are so simple yet so impactful! you did a great job capturing the theme of freedom. The birds are a great symbol of freedom!
JS,
I adore the simplicity in this. I love spending time in nature, specifically my favorite is going hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I got into hiking as a way to escape the overwhelming stresses of everyday life. During the pandemic in 2020, my mental health suffered, and in nature is where I sought refuge. Stepping into the first break in the treeline, revealing the first open view of every hike, gives me a sense of euphoria every time, a feeling like I can finally breath for the first time. I look out into the world and I see only that, I think only in the moment, I feel only the cool breeze, and I hear only the wind and the birds, and in those moments I feel truly free.
Beautiful and to the point. Yes, birds are the perfect description of freedom. They are wild and free to roam the open space and explore and make there home wherever they chose.
Haikus are some of my favorite types of poems to read because they are so simple, yet they get such a strong point across. I loved how you compared the birds with freedom and I feel that it is a strong comparison. Keep up the good work!
Hey JS, I loved this poem you wrote. Although it was very short, it was still incredibly powerful. It doesn’t always take a lot of words to get a point across. Definitely keep writing, and thank you for sharing this with us!
Dear JS,
I love this short haiku. Although it may be short, it still found its way to reach my heart. It represents how you are looking forward to freedom and how close you are to it. It shows the positive outlook, determination, and redeemable qualities you have. Congratulations!
Hi JS,
This piece took me a minute to process. I think because it’s so short, it allows readers to think deeper into the meaning. Freedom is clearly very important to you, and you seem to be close to achieving it. When you want something bad enough, often that is all you can focus on, and this poem seems to be reminiscent of that. I also love the symbolism through using the birds, a universal symbol of freedom. I love the simplicity of this piece; it allows readers to think but gives them enough emotion and language to understand. Thank you for sharing!
Ainsley
Hi JS,
There is so much to appreciate in the simple three lines. That feeling of freedom is what will keep you going. If you continue to power through your time and think about the birds singing and smell your freedom. It’s a beautiful image to have in your head to power you through your time. Goodluck!
Some might not, but I love the simplicity of your work. You got the point across. I love this.
Haikus are great because with so little, you can say so much. The singing of birds reminds me of the changing of seasons, when birds come back and sing after a long winter. There’s so much imagery from just 17 syllables and you convey it masterfully
Simple yet powerful. You could omit a relatable sense of smell and feel with only three simple lines. Maybe they aren’t so simple if that were the case. Your short poem reminded me of the privilege I’ve had to take a breath and live. Thank you!
I love how short and sweet this poem is. I had to read it a couple of times to get the true meaning behind it. Nature is so beautiful and I think you really capture it in this poem. The relationship between your feelings about nature and the value of freedom is so important. The last sentence “I taste it” really symbolizes how freedom is something we can really appreciate and acknowledge. The imagery of nature and the thoughts of freedom is what keeps up going and what motivates us each day. Keep up the great work!
I love how it’s short but represents our perception of freedom as a bird, creating a positive vibe and is uplifting.
This is a simple yet powerful poem. I love how you use your senses to describe how you feel. Keep searching for the positives. The birds are outside waiting for you to join them! Please continue writing. You really are amazing!
This short and sweet haiku is so powerful! As many other poems I have read recently, it says so much with such few words. With just three short lines, this poem creates great imagery. This poem represents being so close to something, in this case no longer being incarcerated, that you can smell it. This poem evokes a feeling of excitement for me. Although I do not know the author, through this poem I have learned they are almost out of incarceration which makes me feel excited for them. The power poetry has is mind blowing! With just three lines, it can connect two people who have never met! I love this poem and wish you all the best JS!
This was so short yet so expressive. Something about hearing the birds chirp in nature reminds me of happiness and freedom. I was able to create imagery just from those 3 lines. The comparison between the two was perfect. Takes a very good poet to create emotion and imagery with such little words. Amazing job. Please keep writing
Hello!
I love how you made something you crave so simple. You made it simple which makes it easier and helps you be able to complete it simpler. I think keeping this attitude of hope will make your time wherever you are easier and become shorter. I know wanting something so hard is hard to do, but the wanting pushes you to really do it. I wish you luck on your journey.
Haikus can be seen as short, but they can be so meaningful. You were able to create a short but powerful haiku about freedom. The choice of words allowed for this impactful message to come across. You have great talent and I hope to see more of your amazing work!
I love simple poems. With a total of twelve words, you got the point across. I, as well as other readers I’m sure, felt a sense of hope, even through the screen. The shortness brings light to a situation that many view as dark. Not all haiku poems have such meaning like yours does. Well done.
I love this! Short and sweet. Haikus are my favorite type of poems. The description of almost being able to taste freedom is super powerful.
Very simple and to the point. This is a beautiful haiku that says so much in so few words. You have talent.
Hello! I love the symbolism in this piece. Birds can resemble as many things and I don’t think freedom gets talked about enough. I think the mockery of the birds adds a sense of bitterness and hope that many people feel when they feel trapped. I love this piece and I hope you continue to create more.
It’s short and to the point. I love it! I understand this as someone that is getting a taste of their freedom soon. The phrase “I hear the birds” symbolizes just how close you are to nature and outside those four walls. It’s beautifully done!
you display a sense of optimism through each of your senses, hearing, smelling, and tasting convey a sense of being fully present at the moment and experiencing freedom with multiple senses. this provides vivid sensory experiences for the readers. The poem leaves room for interpretation, allowing the reader to imagine and interpret what freedom means to them personally. This open-endedness invites the reader to engage with the poem and reflect on their own emotions and experiences.
It is not easy to captivate so much in such a simple poem, and you have done an amazing job at just that. With only twelve words, each word is meticulously chosen because of its purpose towards delivering the story. I hope you will continue to write and share your story.
JS,
I honestly really admire how short your poem is. Often times when writing a short poem it can be hard for the reader to get something out of it but I think you have done a great job. The power behind the words you use really help to convey the sense of freedom you hope and can maybe even feel. I like the idea behind this poem and think you did a great job executing it! Well done!
This haiku is beautiful and breathtaking. I love the themes of hope in this poem because one day you will be free as the birds that fly above. It is so simple yet so beautiful and it is hard to evoke such emotion in a small poem, but this short poem spoke 100 words.