NIGHTINGALES
Sing at night as well as during the day.
The nightingale is an important symbol for poets , and has taken on a number of symbolic connotations. Homer evokes the Nightingale in the Odyssey:
Nightingale Song:
LISTEN
LISTEN
and my poem
NIGHTBIRDS
NIGHTBIRDS
There must be trillions of us,
all with the same inclination to wake,
wandering through nights, mulling over events, making plans,
thinking, panning for gold
within the special silence of cities
that never truly sleep, only keep on
within the special silence of cities
that never truly sleep, only keep on
differently rhythmic than daytime's pace.
Long lines of refugees
seeking safety this wide world round,
soldiers shouldering their assignments,
seeking safety this wide world round,
soldiers shouldering their assignments,
whole armies of cleaners cleaning,
watchers watching,
watchers watching,
service workers servicing,
doctors and nurses toiling at their tasks
trying to save what is broken,
taxi drivers on regular fourteen hour shifts
shifting aching bones,
shifting aching bones,
train and bus personnel
taking us where we want to be,
taking us where we want to be,
truckers hauling all the things we think we need
back and forth
crossing every land route.
Look, pilots are soaring above us.
Ships plod through the waters that surround us.
Listen, can you hear the hum
as enormous energies transfer
Ships plod through the waters that surround us.
Listen, can you hear the hum
as enormous energies transfer
from factories doing twenty-four-seven
just to keep from sinking under
tidal floods of economic collapse?
tidal floods of economic collapse?
The ice is melting.
that some still find the energy for poetry,
for dance, for art and play.
for dance, for art and play.
Astounding
that this has been so for all recorded time;
people caring for one another,
responding to beauty,
loving their lives.
responding to beauty,
loving their lives.
Life wants to live.
Doesn't it take your breath away?
Doesn't it send shivers right through you?
Isn't it almost unbearable
to let it all in,
make room for everything,
for everyone.
Remember,
leave space in between,
for what we can not see is so vast,
for everyone.
Remember,
leave space in between,
for what we can not see is so vast,
"infinity" is insufficiently descriptive.
Here is where silence is a useful practice,
'surrender' becomes 'skillful means',
and happiness-
the habit that might be chosen.