DH is like most of you here, on team Cardinal, so I made a few changes to it...

And for equal time, Team Chickadee

I probably should have posted those first and then the poll as the poll really shrinks the pic and doesn't allow me the proper text...

I voted for the chickadee card because the picture is clearer and it mentions holidays. The cardinal card seems like it could be used anytime.

I like both haikus but I think I would write one that gives praise to the winter season rather than just waiting for it to end.

But that’s just me.

Cardinals seem most appropriate to the holiday season, the red is more festive than just black, white and gray.

I think the red color is what most people are responding to. But for me, it's the expression on the chickadee that makes him so attractive.

I hear you roxsol, but winter is hard on us, the dark days bring depression for me, and I see how hard it is on the creatures trying to survive it, so I suspect they prefer spring, as do I.

The placement of the chickadee is much more interesting, engaging, and dynamic than the placement of the cardinal, which appears very static being centered the way it is. I think the chickadee photo lends itself more to Haiku. I find the cardinal photo a bit boring, mundane, and more expected. Not that it's not pretty - it's just less unique.

The poll does not shrink the photos for me, once I have clicked on them to enlarge.

BTW, I always vote on my own polls! My last poll was on whether people preferred pancakes or waffles, and so I saw no reason not to vote. I voted that I liked both.

Annie, I understand.🙂

But, I really don’t think cold weather/ short days is as hard on birds, or lots of other animals as we think it is.

Winter is a wonderful season.

Annie, I remembered your card from 10 years ago? Yikes

At present the vote is 58 cardinal to 16 chickadee. I voted for cardinal, but if only the chickadee's tail had been in the photo, I would have chosen it. I agree with Lars' comments, but that chopped off chickadee tail is just too strong.

The chickadee haiku is a little dreary, as if you can't wait for this season to be over. Not very festive.

I agree that it is too early to start thinking about when winter will end - it hasn't even started yet!

I vote for the Cardinal on the outside and the chickadee on the inside of the card. :-). I didn't actually vote because how can one vote for both of them. :-) I like them both.

It is now 63 to 17. Sixty-three for the cardinal.

I think the cardinal is more predictable. I love chickadees and love that haiku, too.

The cardinal just jumped out for me. It brought a smile to my face and a little happiness to my soul. That one for sure.

Thank you all for your participation. All throughout the poll, the proportion has been about the same, 3 to 1. I think DH agrees with most of you on team Chickadee.

Lars, you express for me exactly how I feel about the cardinal. I too agree it's predictable. One is more arty, one is more staid. I have another shot that I was considering in its place but DH didn't like it, precisely because the cardinal was not centered and I actually prefer it.

While I see the issue with the cut off tail for the chickadee, he was on the bird feeder which is ugly so I avoided taking it in the picture.

I'm thinking back and a lot of my haikus include winter's end and looking forward to spring. I think that's because the winter solstice is a big deal for me as it means the return of the sun, and that the days start getting longer rather than shorter, even though the worst of the snow and cold is ahead of us.

And there's this one of the cardinal...

Which I can flip...

But usually when I struggle this much, it's because what I'm doing isn't right, and I need to rip them all up and start from scratch.

I voted cardinal because I love winter and don't like the chickadee wanting it to be over.

OK boys and girls, we have a winner! Cardinal it is, but new picture, new haiku.

Except I'm still not completely happy with the haiku...I'll have to revisit later...

Annie, I know I'm talking to a master, but what if you subbed the word "Winter" for either "Upon" or "Cardinal"...? Or just as is, it's a delightful card!

Instead of "emblazoned", how about using a reference to his fiery color as a contrast to the ice?

Thank you for your suggestions...I do like how cardinals provide color in winter when everything else is so gray, but this shot has a lot of color in it so the comparison doesn't quite work. I need to meditate for awhile and it will help open up my creative conduits.

Also, since this is haiku, any word substitution must be of the same # of syllables to maintain the strict 5 - 7 - 5.

I like them both. But I chose one, although I prefer your photo of the cardinal with the cardinal not right in the center. Love haikus. :)

Why would you want opinions from strangers for something so personal!

Why not? It's not like I'm ceding control of the final decision, but I'm interested in knowing how it will most likely be received by the recipients. It's clear there's a preference for one over the other, and I send the cards to make others happy, not just me. This group is a very thoughtful, tasteful and creative bunch, so I value their input.

You've mentioned the cardinal and you've mentioned the branches so maybe

Winter in repose or

Nature in repose or

Season of repose

Fiery red blazes

Against ice-stippled branches

Bringing season's joy

I like the active verb of "blazes", Annie. I always try to use active verbs to paint a picture.

I like the new placement of the cardinal much better.

Are you using Power Point or some other program?

I'm using Snapfish...have to decide and place the order tomorrow...last day for their 70% off sale...

Eileen, "firey red blazes" is 6 syllables so it doesn't work.

That's what I thought too but I looked it up and saw many references where it's two syllables. Fie-ry. Though I say fi-er-y.

Britannica says fire has one or two syllables.

https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/eb/qa/fire-one-syllable-or-two

Blazing like fire

Upon ice-stippled branches

He brings season's joy

Upon ice-covered branches

Small sanguine creature

Bringing joy of the season

I like that it means both red and optimistic. ( LOL I wasn’t the best in the poetry part in my HS English class but thought I’d give it a go)

I'm glad you're having fun with the haikus...they are fun, aren't they?

And as simple as they are, I find them challenging as you're trying to convey a story or feeling in so few words.

Thanks for your response! With your exceptional talents, you might want to consider looking into using Hallmark Card Studio program. It's worth the cost and can pretty much accomplish similar results plus a lot more. Love your posts.

OK, I think I've got it now...and then to bed.

Cardinal resting

Upon ice-stippled branches

Sign of hope and peace

Annie - by Jove, you've got it! And I really like the last Cardinal photo. I still remember my art teacher's instruction that you should avoid centering the focal point of a composition - unless there is a compelling reason for it.

Do you print them yourself?

cardinal

Birds have warm feathers

They enjoy winters beauty

lucky little birds

Thanks Maire...I use snapfish....they print them and they'll do the return address on envelopes too. I usually do up a letter to enclose as well which I print off at Staples. I used to use Shutterfly, but they don't allow me the flexibility I want in designing the card, though I still use them to create photo albums.

So funny how much time and effort I put into creating these things to get them just so, when I'm sure the recipients look at the card and say that's nice and in the pile it goes. But that's how my career was too. Sweating over every decimal point and comma in presentations that in a few weeks were only good as bird cage liners. But that's like the Buddhist mandalas...hours in the creation, only to destroy them.

I agree about the centering too, which is why the first cardinal one was bothering me. This one, the cardinal is at the 2/3 mark, right where he should be. But I have to admit, I'm still partial to the chickadee because of the expression and pose.

Last update, I promise...I like the repetition of the "P"s ... it makes it hang together better.

Cardinal pauses

Upon ice-stippled branches

Sign of hope and peace

I think that one is perfect!

I didn’t come to Houzz expecting to find poetry tonight but I love it! The new cardinal shot and latest haiku draft are so strong and uplifting.

I always put a photo of DH and I on the back of the card...and wouldn't you know it, after I sent it off and it was too late to change, I came across a better photo of us I should've used instead.

I think it's from failing to "rabbit rabbit" this month...

Annie, I love LOVE your last Haiku! With all due respect, and being perfectly honest, Haiku is not an art form that I like. Your card is perfection.

Rusty

Rusty, I've always enjoyed Haiku. While traditionally they are supposed to relate to nature, they do make some funny ones too, such as the Morning Haiku from a cat:

In the morning light,

You sleep despite my meow.

I stand on your face.

Or this one:

I can’t help thinking:

Why is “abbreviation”

A very long word?

And I was especially surprised to learn that, if you know the song Moonlight in Vermont, which is a fave of DH's, the verses are haikus...

Pennies in a stream

Falling leaves of sycamore
Moonlight in Vermont.

Oh Annie - that's one of my favorite songs too. I had no idea the verses were haikus.