There is a legend about a bird
which sings just once in its life,
more sweetly than any other
creature on the face of the earth.
From the moment it leaves the nest
it searches for a thorn tree,
and does not rest until it has found one.
Then, singing among the savage branches,
it impales itself upon the longest,
sharpest spine.
And, dying, it rises above its own agony
to out-carol the lark and the nightingale.
One superlative song, existence the price.
But the whole world stills to listen,
and God in His heaven smiles.
For the best is only bought
at the cost of great pain ...
. . . Or so say the legend.
- Collen McCullough
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