Morning Song

Posted on February 24, 2018 by Sue Vincent

It was dark when I woke, just the faintest lightening of the deep blue to herald the sun’s rising. Through the open window of my bedroom another herald greets the coming dawn. The blackbird was perched on the tree so I could see the faint silhouette as I lay there listening to the concert. There is no music that betters a live performance, and the first song of the blackbird is the most beautiful of all.

I am lucky… though as I sit shivering on winter mornings I may not think so… as the dog requires instant and prolonged access to the garden. Being up so early I can listen to the dawn chorus most days. Sometimes, even so early, I am so busy that it is the just background music to activity, the half-heard soundtrack to thought and movement. Most days, however, I take the time to listen, revelling in the gift of song I could never match. It accompanies me through meditation and leads me in beauty to stillness.

Within half an hour the world is full of song as the sun rises. You can hear it even in the town, beyond the traffic noise, but here in the village it is the only sound when the world still sleeps. I wonder about it sometimes. What are they saying? Are they singing in simple joy a hymn to the sun at its rising? Are they sharing news and gossip. Both perhaps. As the first bird raises its voice in song it seems to sing alone for a long time… its voice one of the loveliest, centre stage… the soloist of dawn. If you listen it seems that way. Then a chorus of voices join the song and it is as if all of creation sings in the morning… except for us, or maybe in part for us, for we seldom raise our hearts in song for the pure joy of living.

Or perhaps, I wonder in the dawn chill, they are singing the Miserere for us, for we who have forgotten a joy they know, the soaring flight of wings on the morning.

About Sue Vincent

Sue Vincent was a Yorkshire born writer, esoteric teacher and a Director of The Silent Eye. She was immersed in the Mysteries all her life. Sue maintained a popular blog and is co-author of The Mystical Hexagram with Dr G.M.Vasey. Sue lived in Buckinghamshire, having been stranded there due to an accident with a blindfold, a pin and a map. She had a lasting love-affair with the landscape of Albion, the hidden country of the heart. Sue  passed into spirit at the end of March 2021.
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53 Responses to Morning Song

  1. Auntysocial says:
    February 24, 2018 at 06:09

    Beautiful 🙂 I often lie and listen to blackbirds and try to pick up on any specific patterns or sounds that might indicate some sort of language going on if you will. There’s a little Robin or I’m sure it’s the same one that follows me along the lane when I’m out with the dogs first thing. He appears in hedges, trees and gates along the lane and the time, place and little spots he rests on and waits for me to catch up makes me think it has to be the same friend staying close and coming with us on our first walk.

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  2. Pingback: Morning Song – The Militant Negro™

  4. jenanita01 says:
    February 24, 2018 at 08:50

    As with the birds you so richly describe, the music you supplied is beautiful too. Sometimes we need a reminder to simply stop and listen… Thank you, Sue…

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  5. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    February 24, 2018 at 09:29

    Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
    I awoke to crows on the roof this morning, discussing the best gardens to visit for leftovers and perhaps a sneaky snatch of something glittery. At the same time they were dislodging pieces of moss and chucking them over the edge in a game of who can throw the furthest. However, after a few minutes they got bored and I could hear the sparrows in the hedge and surrounding trees with their songs of romance. Spring is here despite the threat of snow. Sue Vincent shares her love of the morning chorus in a much more eloquent fashion.. do head over.

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  6. pensitivity101 says:
    February 24, 2018 at 10:12

    We have a pair of blackbirds visit our garden and I’m hopeful we will see them bringing up young. They are a little wary of us, tending to sit on the fence rather than come to the feeder (Hubby intends to move it further away from the window). Their song is beautiful.

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  7. Judith Barrow says:
    February 24, 2018 at 10:17

    Almost always hear the chorus in the morning – velux window slightly open in my study despite the cold and husband shouting ” is the heating off in there?” lol! We have an old tree that I hang all sorts of ‘birdy’ treat – just to entice them to our garden.This week, a wonderful surprise, a woodpecker has joined the breakfast gang.Even the resident robin isn’t brave enough to see this bird off!

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  9. memadtwo says:
    February 24, 2018 at 11:38

    Two residences ago, our kitchen window looked out on the roof next door. Every morning the starlings would sit on the railing and serenade us. I looked forward to it to begin each day. (K)

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  10. robbiesinspiration says:
    February 24, 2018 at 11:56

    A lovely reminder, Sue, of the joy of morning and our everyday blessings.

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  11. Frank J. Tassone says:
    February 24, 2018 at 12:40

    The avian chorus returned to our backyard recently, too! 😀

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  12. buffalopound says:
    February 24, 2018 at 14:34

    A haunting lovely piece of music to go with your post. Thanks, Sue.

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  14. Jennie says:
    February 25, 2018 at 00:25

    “We seldom raise our hearts in song for the pure joy of living.” Do have any idea how profound that statement is? It blew me over, as if I were a feather. I sing all the time. All the time. I will either go down as a cuckoo older lady, or one who knows. Thank you, Sue. 🙂

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  15. Marilyn Armstrong says:
    February 25, 2018 at 02:59

    Not a lot of morning song here in the winter, but in another month, morning will be as you describe it — full of song. If the dogs would just stop barking for a while. They scare away the birds!

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  17. Lyn Horner says:
    February 25, 2018 at 04:56

    Reblogged this on Lyn Horner's Corner and commented:
    Beautiful thoughts by Sue Vincent.

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  18. Lyn Horner says:
    February 25, 2018 at 05:06

    So beautiful, Sue! Makes me think of the song “Morning Has Broken” by Cat Stevens. It’s one of my favorites. Lyrics of the first stanza:
    Morning has broken like the first morning
    Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
    Praise for the singing
    Praise for the morning
    Praise for them springing fresh from the world

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  19. Eliza Waters says:
    February 26, 2018 at 00:29

    I love the dawn chorus, which of course, only comes in the breeding season as males proclaim their territory to any rival. Even though there is still snow on the ground and the days are cold, the locals have already started doing so, well before the more melodious migrants arrive. How it gladdens my heart to hear them sing their song of spring!

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