Go tell it to the birds – a rondel.

A song is not a song unless it’s heard,
A tune is just a tune without a word,
and yet a million forests ring with sound;
it seems that no one told this to the birds.

They fail to recognise they are absurd,
sing on in joy despite what we propound;
A song is not a song unless it’s heard,
A tune is just a tune without a word.

I think perhaps I’d rather be a bird
and fly in thermals high above the ground
to voice my song untrammelled and unbound
by this conceit and so be undeterred:
A song is not a song unless it’s heard.