Once upon a winter night, when everything was still,

I heard a funny tapping noise outside my windowsill.

I looked to see just what was there, and much to my surprise,

A Nightingale hopped right inside and stared me in the eyes.

I Asked what I could do for her, and offered her some tea.

Now listen very carefully to what she said to me.

“I came here from a far off land, a place of Kings and Queens.

We don’t buy things with money, we just use jellybeans.

Where Cardinals and Cockatoo’s play tag up in the trees,

And Red-Winged Blackbirds all get fat, 

from eating corn and cheese.

I was very happy there, I owned a handsome King.

Every morn at breakfast time, I used to sing, and sing.

But then one day I tried to sing, 

my voice just squeaked and cracked. . .

That’s why I left, I feel so bad, I know I can’t go back.”

I said to her, “well, drink your tea.  Then take a little rest.

Later in the evening we’ll give your voice a test.”

Sure enough when she awoke, she began to sing.

She wouldn’t stop for a minute, a second or anything.

She flew out in the night, through wind and snow and hail. . .

And that’s the end of the story of the King and the Nightingale.

                                                                        By Priscilla Rose Wyatt     1960