Birdsong

After reading that birdsong can soothe our nervous system

When spring initiates its defrosting, one of the first things to thaw is a bird’s beak. All of a sudden, while trees still stand naked and shivering, birdsong is heard and they dance. The leafless branches, the wilted grass, the seed waiting for its time to bloom––all of nature dances to the tune.

Suddenly, the earth is awake, spring becomes summer, and everything bursts with life. But, it isn’t just the world around us that responds so beautifully to birdsong. The world inside us does, too. Birdsong has been proven to soothe our nervous system. Isn’t that wonderful? Of course, I had to write a poem about it!

I’ve actually been sitting on this piece for a while. It wasn’t until I saw this bird drawing a few days ago, created by the talented

Emily Barnett

, that I was reminded of the words I’m about to share. The bird depicted here, mid-song, seems so at ease and at peace. It’s as if its own birdsong were soothing it as well. It captures what I sought to write in such a tangible way.

Thank you

Emily Barnett

for your kindness in letting me use your art. It truly brings this poem to life!

Scroll down for the poem.

Drawing courtesy of author Emily Barnett

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After reading that birdsong can soothe our nervous system

The bird's tune lifts our winter blues
when spring arrives and he begins
to sing its welcome.

A chirp, followed by another chirp
and another
chirp, chirp, chirp
soothes the whole world.
Awakens it from its deadly slumber.

Each hymn carried by the wind
each lyric written between its melodies
say it’s safe to flourish.

Summer arrives and the birdsong travels
past gardens and mountains and bodies of water
back to me. Its tranquil notes
reverberate through my joints and bones
until they make their own music.

Streaming like blood in each vein.
Resurrecting me, again.
Beckoning my mind to wonder:

if he is the provider 
of the chirping sparrow,
then where they sing, 
there he is,
then peace always follows.

- r.e.g.

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“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” Matthew 6:25-27

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7