Nightingale's Watch

Through somber steps each climb is made; The fruitless efforts fail. Thus, love unshared and work unpaid Disturbs the nightingale. In song it copes With fears and hopes; From limbs it hung, All feelings sung. Warm waters crawl beneath its wings On lonely twilight trips. Yet, cold of nighttime softly stings The feet with which he grips. So many are the shamed Whose sorry sights were aimed To win the hopeless fight; The one unanswered plight. Where care once came Comes only shame; Now only rhyme Recalls the time When lovers held each other tight On nights of endless laughter. The nightingale would take its flight, Rejoicing ever after. But friends refuse each others hands, The sign of cherished life. On edge of death his heart now stands. Serrated is the knife. Now gone away again to mourn The winged creature flies, Until the warmth of love reborn Revives the sunken eyes-- Those bitter sockets filled with tears Reflect the speckled moon. Escape from tortured life appears-- He ends the final tune.