Thornbird Song Poem by Sonya Florentino

Sonya, both your poem and a legend mesmerise. I have read about this some years ago in a book by Colleen Mc Cullough 'The Thorn Birds' which you quote here, and it intrigued me, too. 'For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain', these lines are very true to life even if this tale is just a legend. Thanks for sharing very much. Yelena M.

Nomad, the song may or may not even exist...but I've always been intrigued by the legend. I will email you this but for everyone else, here's some info: Legend of the Thornbird (by Colleen McCullough) : 'There is a legend about a bird that sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest, it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. And dying, it rises above its own agony to outsing the lark and the nightingale. One superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to listen, and God in his heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain. Or so says the legend.' * Freckle-Breasted Thornbird - (Phacellodomus striaticollis) a small passerine bird species of the family Furnariidae, found in South America.

I've always liked this one Sonya, although I have never heard the thornbird. It flows like a song through my mind...the thornbird's song? Take care, N