Random sounds in birdsong work on our brain to soothe the hectic rush.
Far too often noise takes away your concentration—loud
television, people talking at the top of their voices and the sound of constant
traffic. But audio experts say certain sounds make it easier to focus. They
include birdsong, which stimulates the mind and relaxes the body.
This has come about because, over thousands of years, people have grasped that when birds sing, they are safe.
The nightingale has probably the most celebrated song, with
John Keats describing the bird pouring forth thy soul abroad in such an
ecstasy! in his 1819 Ode to a Nightingale.
Samuel Taylor
Coleridge's 1798 poem The Nightingale reads: And hark! the
Nightingale begins its song. "Most musical, most melancholy" bird!...
so his song should make all Nature lovelier, and itself be loved like
Nature!
William Wordsworth wrote the skylark's babbling song dost
pour upon the world a flood of harmony in his 1805 verse To a Skylark.
I wrote this poem in my garden several years ago.
UNGRASPED
MELODY
The
sound tickling my brain
Releasing
remembered pain
With
ungrasped melody there
At
the back, under my hair.
Music
made by nearby birds
Although
by my ears it's heard
It
strokes parts contained within
Tweaking
inside with a pin.
Ecstasy
for all to feel
Not
through chemicals, but real
Pay
attention and you'll hear
Every
birdsong that is near.
So
many different notes
All
put forth from tiny throats
Composed
in alien ways
Seem
to burst forth in relays.
Each
note strikes a different part
Of
my brain and of my heart
The
same feeling that's perceived
When
huge fireworks are achieved.
The
birdsong lulls me to relax
Pushing
out all thoughts that tax
Snatches
of memory drift
Other
patterns of time shift.
Birdsong works because it's made up of lots of random
sounds. There is no repeating rhythm or pattern to focus on. There is no other
sound that can achieve the same thing as birdsong on our brain. Make it part of
the soundtrack to your day.
Lovely poem and I like to listen to birdsong as well.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I usually write with the TV on, but the sound is on low.
ReplyDeleteHugs and chocolate,
Shelly
I have my office window open as I write this. Birdsong drowns out everything else.
ReplyDeleteNeat poem. Indeed, I'll generally sit outside without music playing,etc. and just listen. Other than noisy mockingbirds, most birdsongs are pleasant.
ReplyDeleteI love bird sounds.
ReplyDeleteHi Francene .. love the poem and birds bring so much pleasure to our lives - I hear them early in the morning before dawn has come .. but they are really active now. I just hope there's enough countryside and variety for all species to survive ..
ReplyDeleteI usually write without any noise in the background .. just the birds if the window is open .. cheers Hilary
Some are nice, though I've never felt safe when hearing them sing. Some are really annoying, like when they wake you up or make so much noise if we're trying to have drinks or something outside. Have never understood how some people can write poetry...words don't come out that way for me.
ReplyDeleteLooking Back
I love bird song, I used to have several cd's of bird song that I used to play when I relaxed
ReplyDeleteI love birdsong. I love birds. I will never hear a nightingale, though, unless I travel over to Europe from my native United States. What I do love is mockingbirds, which drive a lot of people crazy, but there is just something about them. I never thought about birdsong signaling safety but it makes a lot of sense.
ReplyDeleteWe have so many lovely birds by our home and frequently feed and house them. I believe as you do they supply us with natures beautiful songs.
ReplyDeleteHey Francene! Thanks for sharing that lovely poem. I wanted you to know that I nominated you for The Very Inspiring Blogger award! http://bev-thebevelededge.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-very-inspiring-blogger-award.html#links
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll accept it and spread the love!