The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #20020   Message #206720
Posted By: Bradypus
04-Apr-00 - 06:28 PM
Thread Name: Song Challenge! Part 20
Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 20
Well, as it was my idea, I suppose I can go first. Obviously I've had some time to think about this one, it's not just off the cuff.

Forest Sounds of Silence

Hello forest, my old friend
I've come to hear your voice again
Come to listen to the birds that sing
Sounds to fill my heart and make it ring
But the trees around stood sentry, all was quiet
In eerie light
There's just the sound of silence.

In restless dreams I walked alone
To the ancient standing stone
Where was carved in runes a tale to tell
Of how the forest into silence fell:
Once a single bird could sing so sweet and long
And its proud song
Begat the sound of silence

And with my dreamlit eye I saw
A thousand songbirds, maybe more
Birds were listening without a song
Harmony, melody, and tune were gone
None could match the bird that sang so clear and high
None even tried
And now the sound of silence

"Fools!" said I, "For now I know
How the silence came to grow
When that single songbird met his death
No other songbirds then would draw a breath
For with envy, shyness, fear, and lack of pride
The music died
There's nothing but the sound of silence"

Then a bullfrog croaked along
To the echo of my song
A jackdaw cawed, a crow gave voice
Common sounds that made my heart rejoice
And the song said "The music that we make is not full art
But it's a start
It will grow, and beat the sound of silence."