The Circle of Scattered Pieces

The Clockwork Nightingale

I made a clockwork nightingale.
I cut the gears and shafts from brass.
The springs I bought at my hardware store.
I made the body and wings from copper,
and etched the feathers in the metal.
The beak and tail were stainless steel.
I enameled eyes so the bird could see.
I wound it up with a silver key.
I taught it madrigals and sent it
from door to door to sing for my supper.
A Nashville crow lured it away
with promises of country music stardom.
I have not heard it sing on the radio,
nor seen its discs in music stores.
I sometimes wonder, late in the night,
if it sings on Nashville's meaner streets,
or lies scrapped in a dump in Tennessee.

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Updated last on:  2001/05/24