The Forgotten Song

By luigi_pagano

Wed, 17 Mar 2021
  • 1490 reads
7 comments
 
O dear, o dear, o dear!
What has gone wrong?
The Regent Honeyeater
has forgotten his song.
 
In avian courtship, music
is extremely important,
so the absence of notes
makes breeding dormant
 
The females were used
to the dulcet tones
of trilling tenors
or bombastic baritones.
 
But things went awry;
now they suffer agony
listening to a chorus
of confusing cacophony.
 
Once abundant in Oz,
there are only a few
of these birds, feeding
on insects' honeydew.
 
The lack of old males
with whom to mix
means that a young chick
is in a real fix.
 
He cannot learn how
to chirrup or to chirp
from a skilled teacher
and feels like a twerp.
 
The language he uses
to attract a young mate
is other birds' sounds
he learned to imitate.
 
It doesn't pass muster
and it is of no use.
It is not understood
and is bound to confuse.
 
Scientists believe that
birds must be retaught,
with old recordings,
the songs they forgot.
 
 
 
© Luigi Pagano 2021
Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Nature

Comments

Submitted by airyfairy on

This is such a sad story! There's something particularly tragic about them losing their voices. I do hope the recordings work and they can get their song back.

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

I am saddened by this distressing news, Jane. Let's hope it doesn't represent a point of no return for the environment.

Luigi x

 

 

Submitted by marandina on

So hoping the recordings work. It's a sad story.

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Worth a try, I suppose, Paul. Thanks for stopping by.

Best, Luigi.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I do like your abilities in encapsulating stories into impacting and humorous straightforward verse, Luigi! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

I believe in the old saying that a coating of sugar makes a pill easier to swallow and that the same can be said when trying to convey a serious message in a humorous way. Hopefully, it will make a greater impact than a metaphoric poem or prose.
Grateful for your kind comment, much appreciated.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

Little Tommy Tucker sang for his supper, and what will the supper be? White bread and butter!