The Nightingale
The nightingale sings at night, because she is extraordinarily shy. She undresses only before the moon.
Besides, she is no beauty. She cannot rival the peacock in the palace garden – grayer even than
a quail in the meadow. Her garment is plain, yet her song crowns her.
Once, as it listened to her, a mouse fell in love – for a lifetime
If you hear this bird singing and have a pair of stars in your pocket, you will be as rich as a street musician.
Her song transforms tears into pure streams. If you weep as she sings, by morning a spring with golden fish will be yours.
God painted lilac, the nightingale, and lovers – in spring.
The nightingale does not sing of temples. She sings of the moon, the rain, and an old woman’s peonies.
In old age, people regret not believing in the nightingale.
The sleeping ones threw apples at her, but she was so little they never hit their mark.
Too small to become a ballerina, she dreamed that song requires no height.
As the nightingale sings, your thoughts of me will be filled with light – though I be a thief who has taken your heart.
Once, she visited a flutist in his dreams – and was fulfilled.