Hot, steaming summer night, sleep, that elusive rogue has fled.
I toss and turn, defeated I follow reluctantly into the moonlight
drenching the liquid air with gold.
The night so still, watched over by enchantress moon holds
promise yet of mystery and wonder. Gentle rustling in the bushes,
a possum intent on feasting on my rosebuds.
I listen rapt, waiting for I know not what when in the park a
solitary note, yet unmistakable, breaks forth.
It holds me rooted to the spot, not breathing lest it hide away its
fellows ... when there it is again, now stronger as with cadence sweet
she breaks into her lilting warble - a Nightingale as I live and
breathe!
Perhaps my guardian angel sent me out to hear this wonder of the
night. The world asleep and only i priviledged to hear once more
what I had given up as lost forever. My hungry soul laps up each
as it rises and falls. No sleep for me this night, the unexpected joy
is far too great.
Nightingales are imported birds known to exist in Melbourne, some
500 miles away across dry and burningly hot country. In South
Australia, the driest State in the driest Continent, they have been
unknown until this night unless it was a phantom singing solely for
my delectation.
*
To you all my dear Bloggy friends I wish a wonderfully healthy and
successful New Year! See you next year!
*
With thanks to Michelle of Rambling Woods for Nature Notes,
and our wonderful SkyWatch Team.
*
Both memes can be accessed by clicking on the relevant Logo.
*
Arija, so beautiful in words and pictures! I thought of you tonight when I watched my evening news with reports of wildfinres in your country. Are they close by to you?
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you haven't heard from me. I have grandkids visiting until the 4th. I will be back again soon. Happy New Year to you, your family and the nightigale!
What a lovely new year gift! I was lucky enough to hear a nightingale's song once, and I agree, it holds a touch of magic.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely an enchanted evening! All the best to you for the New Year.
ReplyDeleteYellow Moon?
ReplyDeleteWell... Beautiful :) And a remembrance of the summer... in the winter.
You write pure poetry! And the accompanying photos are stunning! What a contrast: your country so sweltering hot and mine cold and dark, waiting for the returning light. I wish you a very happy 2010. Kids are already lighting fireworks overhere on the field in front of my house.
ReplyDeleteDear Arija, what a beautiful post and such a magical night for you! Sleep eludes me as well this early morning and I while I don't hear the nightingale, I am loving the sound of rain on our skylights - so soothing! Wishing you and your family all the best for the New Year!! Hugs from afar, Silke
ReplyDeleteWISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR !
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shot of the moon, it would be cool to see or hear the nightingales.
ReplyDeleteI wish you all the best in 2010. Happy New years to you and your family.
Sometimes a sleepless night does offer a reward. I'm so glad you were out there to hear that!
ReplyDeleteWonderful images that disguise the horrible temperatures you must be enduring.
ReplyDeleteIt was bad here in Melbourne today but I gather it's so much worse in Adelaide.
The rain has come here at last. I hope it's there for you too, if not now, then soon.
Happy new year, Arija
What a spectacular post, words and photographs. Wishing you all the best in the year ahead.
ReplyDeleteWarm, woolly wishes for a wonderful 2010, dear Arija~!
ReplyDeleteMay this day be the start of everything that is good for you.Happy New Year my dear friend.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,Ruth
Wow, unreal pictures - beautiful, strong! And the words so fitting.
ReplyDeleteI wish you a gardenlicious 2010!
Oh my goodness...how utterly beautiful in photo and prose..You have a gift my friend...I also want to wish you and your family a very happy and healthy New Year... Michelle
ReplyDeleteHello Arija, I came to wish you a Happy 2010, and your golden Moon greets me! So beautiful - as is your post about the elusive Nightingale. Enjoy that song as you head into the New Year.
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous captures and beautiful, wonderful words to match! I do hope the wild fires are kept under control this season! Thank you for a year of inspiration and beauty, Arija! Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year along with a big hug!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
The most beautiful pictures ever Arija, what a miracle.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year darling.
xoxo
Dear Arija,
ReplyDeletethank you so much for your dreamlike pictures, they really are great. Best wishes for a very Happy New Year for you and your dears!
kri from Austria
What lovely words, what beautiful pictures. I have never seen a moon so golden. You are blessed.
ReplyDeleteHere's a Happy New Year to you. I pray the coming year will be filled with amazing adventures, laughter and joy! May you have strength through the hard times and peace throughout this new year.
Arija, it is lovely! I have only seen the moon that color a couple of times.
ReplyDeleteThe best to you and yours this coming year.
Amazing!
ReplyDeleteA Blessed New Year Arija.
Beautiful, Arija, words and images both. The song of the Nightingale is pure gift. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful yellow "blue" moon you captured there. I hope that the new year brings your continent much needed rainfall. Happy new year to you!
ReplyDeleteNew Year is the time to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the coming year. It is the time to forget and get past memories that are no longer useful or worth pondering upon. It is the time for new beginnings and new starts in life. New Year has a message for each one of us. One should let go of the past that has bad memories and accept what has happened, has happened for some reason. Instead of clinging onto your past and things that have gone, it is better to let go.
ReplyDeleteThere is an old saying that goes, "Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened". This essentially means that there is no use crying over spilt milk. You cannot turn back time and do things that would benefit you. Accept that some days you are the pigeon and some days you are the statue. New year is the time of new beginnings. It is time to start afresh and do things that would make someone else smile. Make a pledge to make at least one person happy. You will see the difference it can make in both your lives. The essential message of New Year is let go off the past and embrace life as it comes to you. You will be happier and merrier that way.
May the coming year 2010 bring you happiness, success, wealth and good health!.
stunning captures and magical words ... so enjoyed your post today.
ReplyDeletehoping you've a most wonderful new year!
Beautiful, beautiful moon. Doesn't quite look blue to me. Dearest Arija, Happy New Year! I wish you and your family good health and good fortune and oodles upon oodles of love and joy and great photographs.
ReplyDeleteXOXOXO!
Thank you for sharing such a special and magical moment. It is nice to read of summer, when we are in the middle of a cold winter.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the faeries sent this nightingale to sing for you.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, dear Arija - may your 2010 be nexcellent!
ReplyDeleteI love your poem and photos - so beautiful. I too love to wake in the night and go out to experience the secret enchanting beauty.
Happy New Year Arija !!!
ReplyDeleteJe te souhaite une excellente et belle année.
Carole.
Oh what a moon! So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteArija, just like you I was watching the New Years Concert on television :) It's extremely difficult to get tickets for the event! I wish you a happy new year!
The pigs I posted are a breed of pig grown especially in Hungary and the Balkans known also as a curly-hair hog. They are so nice to touch. And they really liked to be caressed!
I love you, do you know how much I love you and how grateful I am for you? Your talent which is overpowered sometimes by your wisdom is awesome. You words are so beautiful. You are a wonder, a gift getting to know you better last year was a highlight of 2009. You hold a special place in my heart. Happy New Year my dearest Arija.
ReplyDeletePoetessa cara,
ReplyDeleteyour words made me choke up,
so beautifully composed, like a most exquisite symphony, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, letting the words and story sink in. It must have been a truly magical night, all the right spirit out there, waiting for you with this incredible offering!
Thank you, dear Arija, for your kind and generous comments on my blog throughout the year. They always speak to my heart and I love to visit you here, in your virtual Zaubergarten.
Happy New Year,
Merisi
That is an ASTOUNDING photo.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year.
What a beautiful night and what a gorgeous moon. You certainly have a special way with words Arija.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful New Year!
B.
Happy New Year to you too. We are getting snow here in Massachusetts. The summer moon really sets the tone for your post.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I loved this!
ReplyDeleteEdward and I are wishing you the very best of everything for this brand new year!! May all your wildest dreams come true!
What a hot looking moon! And soothing poem of the nightingale! Here tis not a night to sit outside and listen for the birds. Happy New Year and enjoy the warm nights.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a wonderful New year treat, I have never heard a nightingale. Hopefully it signals all good things for you in 2010.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful words and photographs! What a delight, hearing the Nightingale!
ReplyDelete