27. The Rainbow Bird As I walked through the forest one winter day deeply lost in my thoughts of life's dark way, I noticed a raven was following me, cawing loudly and hopping from tree to tree. 2. I shooed him away for I wanted no friend, but he kept hopping back as I rounded each bend. He stopped at my feet and I knelt with alarm as I saw that his wings were terribly deformed. Refrain: Shiny black were his feathers. Shiny black were his eyes. Shiny black were his cries. But such wings... how could he fly? 3. My lone companion, this chattering bird, of what he said I knew not a word. Together we wandered far and wide, a sad man and a noisy blackbird at his side. 4. The journey was long, and the sights were many in that wondrous dark forest of baffling plenty. Wherever we went, the people we met were sad like myself, never ceasing to fret. 5. They heard the wind and my raven's black cries. Their hearts were heavy under dull gray skies. I too turned from the day and I welcomed the night as any man would, following my blackbird's broken flight. Refrain: Shiny black were his feathers. Shiny black were his eyes. Shiny black were his cries. But such wings... how could he fly? Repeat refrain. 6. One day my raven hopped no more. He lay on the ground, his chattering over. My eyes filled with tears. He raised his black head. He opened his beak and clearly said: 7. "I have ridden your shoulder many a night and day, and you never once heard what I had to say. You sad foolish soul, at last I can show what you were to blind to see and too frightened to know." 8. With that he died, and before my eyes, where my raven had been there mounted to the skies a rainbow bird on wings of light. I shielded my eyes and wept at the sight. Refrain: Shiny black were his feathers. Shiny black were his eyes. Shiny black were his cries. But such wings... how he did fly! 9. And my tears turned to laughter as I felt myself rise toward my friend's joyful dancing in the open blue skies. Refrain: Shiny black were his feathers. Shiny black were his eyes. Shiny black were his cries. But such wings... how we did fly!
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