The Forgotten Song

Cherry

By luigi_pagano

Sat, 24 May 2025
  • 1501 reads
14 comments
 

Can anyone tell me
what has gone wrong?
The Regent Honeyeater
has forgotten his song.
 
In avian courtship, music
is extremely important;
in the absence of notes
the breeding is 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 Down Under
now 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 truly in a 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 (circa 2021)

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Comments

Submitted by Jessiibear on

This was such a fun read—great rhythm and clever rhymes throughout! I especially loved the lines:

The language he uses

to attract a young mate

is other birds’ sounds

he learned to imitate.

That hit me like a metaphor for modern dating—how people often imitate what they think will work, but the “rizz” doesn’t always land. laugh The last stanza also gave me Hunger Games vibes with the idea of using birds to preserve recordings. Beautifully done!

Jess

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hello Jess. Nice to hear from you. Many thanks for the insightful analysis of this (oldish) poem of mine. Poetry is multifaceted and open to many interpretations from factual to metaphorical. The parallel you make to modern relationships, esoeciaaly about dating, is valid as proper communication is vital in all aspects of life. I must confess that I am not familiar with the Hunger Games.

Regards and best wishes, Luigi x

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

That's so sad Luigi! I watched my blackbird yesterday evening as he sang on the roof of my house - the songs are really complex if you stop and listen - anyway, he's usually alone but his offspring have all fledged now and he had them sitting up on the chimney with him - it was so interesting and just as you describe in your poem!

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Claudine. I always enjoy hearing the birds sing. I'm often woken up by a dawn chorus but regret that, not being an ornithologist, I cannot  identify the harmonious sounds of our plumed friends. I have seen a lot of blackbirds in my garden recently, some brave enough to come to the back door pecking at the bread that I leave  but sometimes a fat pigeon gets there before them.
As always, my thanks to the cherries' donor.

Luigi x

 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

What a beautiful bird the Regent Honeyeater is. Musical tones must be so important in their courtship. I never realized there were very few old males left, that's so sad.

Your poem gives valid thought to this unfortunate bird Luigi.

Jenny. xx

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Jenny. A very unfortunate situation indeed. It is like operatic singers losing their voice and unable to perform. The absence of successful courtship must have affected the decline in numbers.

Luigi xx

 

Submitted by D G Moody on

Thanks for this poem Luigi, it prompted me to google it and find there were only 300 now left to breed and pass on their song.

Dougie Moody

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Dougie. Let's hope that boffins can find a solution to the problem.

Cheers, Luigi

 

Submitted by Frances Macaula... on

This poem reminds me of one I wrote some time ago, about my favourite bird, the Blue Fairy Wren found in the South West of Western Australia. I lived in Manjimup near magnificent Karri trees where flashes of bright blue could be seen in the undergrowth. Local artists often paint them  - the males, they're the colourful ones, the females are like your Royal Honeyeater, brown. Must confess I don't remember hearing their song...  but I certainly enjoyed your words, Luigi, thank you and congratulations on your cherries. 

Soundcloud:  https://soundcloud.com/search?q=FrancesMF(link is external)

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

 Hello, Frances. I am envious that you leave in a country that is inhabited by so many exotic and colourful birds like the Fairy Blue Wren that you mention. I wonder if the local artists have enough pigments on their palettes to reproduce the hues of those magnificent birds.
Thank you for letting me know that you enjoyed my words.

Best wishes, Luigi

 

Submitted by Frances Macaula... on

I should correct myself and give one of my favourite birds it's correct name: the Splendid Blue Wren found in the South-West Forrests in Western Australia but also variations of the same with slight differences in colour, also found in the Eastern States.  Thank you again for your comments. 

Best.

Soundcloud:  https://soundcloud.com/search?q=FrancesMF(link is external)

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Cheers. yes

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Nolan on

Got a lovely beat going there Luigi! Nolan &

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Thank you, Nolan.

Best, Luigi