A gleaming bird
Once called to me
To tell me something wise
But wisdom is a fickle thing
As changing as the tides

"Birds of a feather, flock together"
The pleasant chaos of our songs
Ought to prove it true
But naught is ever as it seems
When your feathers can sever
And lose their hue

But still we sang our songs
But still we sang in tune
Until the day we trembled
Under some timely news

A stern old stag had come our way
With some words in mind
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"
So boldly he surmised
We'd rue that day, those words he said
Much to our surprise

For "Misery craves company"
Verdant groves not spared
Those songs turned dark and villainous
Fouling the very air

So when you've come to ask yourself
Why a bird's not 'fraid to die
Take this saying off the shelf
"Once bitten, twice shy"