All night long the nightingale
Has been struggling in his thicket
To raise a song
To teach voluminous hills
Another way to live.
He has started
And started
Again
And again.
Persistent particularly because...
Trailing away in the air
His misinterpreted voice
Threatens the unmusical.
Attune your ear to his tune
Before he dies, before he dies.
No territorial notes
Invest his sole attempts
To celebrate, to celebrate
Joy, joy of excelling
Humanity's intent to silence singing.
Alasdair Aston