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There is a legend about a bird
which sings just once in its life,
more sweetly than any other
creature on the face of the earth.
From the moment it leaves the nest
it searches for a thorn tree, and
does not rest until it has found
one. Then, singing among the savage
branches, it impales itself upon
the longest, sharpest spine. And,
dying it rises above its own agony
to out carol the lark and the
nightingale. One superlative song,
existence the price. But the whole
world stills to listen, and god in
his heaven smiles. For the best is
only bought at the cost of great
pain....Or so says the legend.
——the Legend about the Thorn Birds |
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