artwork by Bronwen R. Evans
Hello you lovely lot! Here´s prompt two from Bronwen for “Winged Words” -
The ‘spark’
If you enjoy birds or birding, you may be familiar with the term ‘spark bird’, which describes an experience or bird sighting that sparked a fire under your passion for nature. Something that you look back on and remember as one of the pivotal moments that drew you in. Many of us may have a few of these, spanning across our lives - some tiny glimmers of bugs or plants in our memories, or the absolute awe of a flock of birds that you didn’t even know existed.
For me, three main memories stick in my mind - An oyster catcher feeding in an estuary, its bright orange-red bill like a beacon against the grey mist - A flock of cattle egret swirling around a lake at dusk, spectral against the silhouettes of trees - A curlew, huddled up in the wind, barely in sight beneath the reeds of the saltmarsh, but with a bill that blew my mind.
For your poem, I would like you to think back to a moment like this, however small, however transformative. An experience at any age that made something click for you, or conjured the realisation that amazing creatures and birds exist, or that we are all a part of nature’s cycles. Perhaps something that made you feel lucky to witness it.
What was the environment like? The weather, the colours, the time of day. Were you alone or surrounded, and did this affect your experience? Was it a very ordinary or familiar sighting that somehow felt special or definitive to you for some reason, or did you see a part of nature that you never thought you’d see?
Hearing about spark moments is one of my favourite things, and I’m so excited to learn about yours through your poetry, whether they be bird related or attached to other creatures, mountains, forests, rivers, insects, elements, or even our beautiful moon. Good luck and happy remembering!
-Bronwen
Submission Guidelines -
Submissions open 8th April - 8th May 2026
- Poems must relate to the prompt, but wide interpretation is considered. Although we love birds, birds do not necessarily need to be a part of your poem. We appreciate that they can make us think of many things!
- One poem per entry (unpublished work only).
- Please send submissions to wingedwords.weesparrow@gmail.com
- Please only include your name in the body of your email. Poems will be read anonymously, so please do not include your name on your poetry document.
- Please note any relevant social media handles/websites in your email.
- Please include a short bio (50 words max).
- Word docs or PDFs please.
- 40 lines max per poem excluding title.
- All the poems will be read by Bronwen and she will choose one poem per prompt which will be featured in our newsletter.
A wee reminder that submissions over at The Wee Sparrow Haiku Nook are open from the 1st to the 15th of every month. You can find the full details here.
Happy writing!
Chirp Chirp!
I wished I'd seen this before posting my poem a miscellany of birds in my mind. This poem relates to the memories of birdwatching and birds that have been important in my life from the Blackbird to the Pheasant. I'd love to ask you to read it as a tribute to my wife who died a year ago this Friday. My poem describes in one stanza the opportunity afforded by YouTube birdwatching from the hospital bed a year ago today and Hamish the Pheasant prompting my wife's last words. Thank you YouTube and the Scottish Wildlife garden YouTube channel.
'https://robjohn233.substack.com/p/day-4-of-kith-and-kins-poetry-challenge?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=5fqr0
Do you know the Traxler setting (for chorus) of the poem Birds of Passage by Longfellow?