I know this is not the bird poetry and music list, but I hope I may be
forgiven for sharing something that moved me deeply. It's a bit relevant -
the stirrings of migration are beginning, the author is a birder, and he was
recently performing here in Columbia.

It's unscientific, it's anthropomorphic, but it's beautiful. Musically it's
even better.
I think most of us have been this bird at one time or another.

If Night Be Kind - Jack Williams

"A trip to Alaska set me thinking about a young bird born near the Arctic
Circle and left by its parents to find its way across North America by
faith, magic, or luck. Reaching the Gulf of Mexico, after one last look
around and without a doubt in its heart, the young bird flies out into a
borderless expanse of sea, driven by a belief that its daring and trust in
Providence will bring it safely to rest."

On the highest bough of an old pine tree,
A restless bird looks away to sea.
Five hundred miles over wave and breeze...
Let night be kind to these wings of mine,
God, if you please.

I've never flown this far before,
Through sky unknown to a distant shore,
To see what fate might have in store...
If I be strong in wing and song,
I'll fear no more.

If faith be strong,
And wind be fair,
If moon does shine,
And night be kind,
I'll meet you there.

Though I was made with wings to fly,
I wandered, aimless, through the sky.
I felt an emptiness unfold...
Then Nature sent a breath of winter
Through my soul.

The hardest thing that bird can see,
Is letting go of that old pine tree,
And fear of falling like a stone...
If night be kind then he may find
His way back home.

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Fred Pierce (DNRC)- avialantic.com
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