How hard it is to be cheerful
\nwhen the sky is one grey cloud,
\nyet there he is in driving rain,
\nundeterred and loud.<\/p>\n
On the topmost branch of his
\nfavourite oak, he proudly sits,
\npouring golden sounds, down
\ninto the swirling mist.<\/p>\n
The mistlethrush, an opera star
\namong all the singing birds,
\nfloats his heavenly song aloft
\nwithout using any words.<\/p>\n
We may be feeling down and out,
\nour news just plain disastrous,
\nbut when he sings so joyfully,
\neven weather is less atrocious.<\/p>\n
Sing on bright messenger, sing on,
\nwelcome visitor on rainy days,
\nfor in our weary, broken worldyour song within us stays.<\/p>\n