Sunday 21 March 2010

No Clichés, and no Nightingales

Tonight, outside my kitchen window here in town, a blackbird is singing to a fellow adversary across the river, who is out of my earshot.

"Blackbird singing in the dead of night..." as the second most popular surviving Beatle sung all those years ago, in a voice which my father found harsh and strained - unlike the blackbird's.

I once placed my self equidistant between two singing male blackbirds during one of the two times of the year they sing most melodiously (spring and winter), and I swear I understood what they were talking about - almost - though I was quite sober.

One bird throws a melody to the other, and the other takes it up, changes and embellishes it slightly, then sings it back to the other. They keep this up from dusk 'till dawn, for weeks on end. They do not sleep.

Wonderful.

7 comments:

  1. Also, the Beatles song (click on the link) reminds me of those days at college with you and the others, Cro - it almost brings tear to my eyes, but not for the reasons that McCartney intended.

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  2. I love that song, and Mother Nature's Son as well. Such a tranquil, melancholy feel to both of them.

    I love the sound of Mourning Doves. I guess I shouldn't enjoy that sad walling, but I do.

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  3. Intelligent music, intelligent lyrics. What more could one ask.

    Blackbirds just started here too. Also lots of small birds flying around with their beaks full of nesting materials.

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  4. I wonder if your Mourning Doves are the same as we call Collared Doves here in England, Amy? It is hard to believe that Collared Doves have only been in this country for about 20 years - there are so many around now, especially in towns.

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  5. I just Googled up Mourning Doves, and they are VERY similar to Collared, but - you guessed it - less of a dark collar. They must be first cousins.

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  6. When I was small they were always known as 'Ring Doves'.

    PC Plod: You're collared, my son.

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  7. I don't think they were in this country when you were small, and policemen would smack you for scrumping, Cro.

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