Proud Songsters (Terzanelle) Poem by Gert Strydom

Birds sing while the day is dying
black-collard barbets, finches and doves in pairs
with sincere sweet voices crying,

in beauty raising my arm hairs,
acknowledging the beginning of spring
black-collard barbets finches, and doves in pairs

in profound beauty sing
before all other beings knowing,
acknowledging the beginning of spring

as if the winter at last is going,
without any further resistance
before all other beings knowing,

smelling the rain in the distance
singing to their hearts content, bright and clear
without any further resistance,

claiming that spring and summer is near.
Birds sing while the day is dying,
singing to their hearts content, bright and clear
with sincere sweet voices crying.

[Reference: Proud Songsters by Thomas Hardy.]