Common nightingales are so named because they frequently
sing at night as well as during the day. The name has been used for more than
1,000 years, being highly recognizable even in its Anglo-Saxon form –
'nightingale'. It means 'night songstress'. Early writers assumed the female
sang when it is in fact the male. The song is loud, with an impressive range of
whistles, trills and gurgles. Its song is particularly noticeable at night
because few other birds are singing. This is why its name includes
"night" in several languages. Only unpaired males sing regularly at
night, and nocturnal song is likely to serve to attract a mate. Singing at
dawn, during the hour before sunrise, is assumed to be important in defending
the bird's territory. Nightingales sing even more loudly in urban or near-urban
environments, in order to overcome the background noise. The most characteristic
feature of the song is a loud whistling crescendo, absent from the song of
thrush nightingale. It has a frog-like alarm call. Wikipedia
Here are a few poems about the nightingale.
Sonnet To The Nightingale ~ John Milton
O NIGHTINGALE that on yon blooming spray
Warblest at eve, when all the woods are still,
While the jolly Hours lead on propitious May.
The Nightingale’s Nest ~ John Clare
Up this green woodland-ride let’s softly rove,
And list the nightingale - she dwells just here.
Hush ! let the wood-gate softly clap, for fear
The noise might drive her from her home of love
Ode To ANightingale ~ John Keats
My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains
My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk,
Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains
One minute past, and Lethe-wards had sunk:
'Tis not through envy of thy happy lot,
But being too happy in thine happiness,—
That thou, light-winged Dryad of the trees
In some melodious plot
Of beechen green, and shadows numberless,
Singest of summer in full-throated ease.
Percy Bysshe Shelley referred to poets as nightingales:
Even today you can see how the bird inspires music as Demi Lovato sings her Nightingale song.
Can you be my nightingale?
Sing to me
I know you're there
You could be my sanity
Bring me peace
Sing me to sleep
Say you'll be my nightingale
Sing to me
I know you're there
You could be my sanity
Bring me peace
Sing me to sleep
Say you'll be my nightingale
What is your nightingale song? Please write a new poem for the challenge; add it to Mr. Linky and then visit your fellow poets to read what poetry the winged bird inspired them to write.
14 comments:
Love the information on the Nightingale. Right away I thought of the song by Nora Jones:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu_EJAM8N98
O! I thought of TOAD THE WET SPROCKET's "Nightingale Song," the chorus of which I put with my poem. A link to Philomela is under the etching.
Thanks, Susie!
Love the direction you gave us, Susie. I have been writing to the themes of the season all month, and I'm afraid I didn't entirely get away from it, but at least I *think* I have avoided the creepy. ;_)
This is a superb prompt, Susie. I do hope to be able to write an appropriate response, but these days I seem to be singing the same old tune...snowed under by work. I shall certainly be turning my thoughts to the idea though and may have something by the weekend.
Adore this. Love birds. I may be late, but I will be writing something. Thank you.
@Lisa, what a beautiful song. I hadn't heard it before. Thanks for sharing it.
@Susan. so thankful it recalled the song for you!!
@hedgewitch, LOL Inspiration takes you where it takes you, whether darkness or light.
@Kerry, So sorry work is drowning you. I certainly understand how that can happen!!
@Margaret, thank you. I am looking forward to what you write.
I loved this - interesting facts, a beautiful song and the chance to think about my interpretation of the prompt.
A perfect bit of inspiration.
@Elaine..thank you
@ Cosmos Cami Thanks so much
A teeny weeny reference to "nightingale"… hope that is enough to qualify :)
Took a few days, but I"m here!
Susie! Better late than never! k .
@Of course it does Margaret.
@Lolamouse So glad to see you here.
@manicddaily It's never too late :)
Better late than never?
This prompt struck me hard... and it took me a while to regain my senses and post something about it.
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