the dark woods of the golden birds

Story

The Dark Wood of the Golden Birds,
by Margaret Wise Brown
pictures by Leonard Weisgard

"
It happened in the woods
a long time ago.
In the dark woods
where the golden birds
sang all through the night
and the day.

...

And in their song he heard all that was beautiful to hear,
the ringing of bells
and the soughing of the wind;
he heard the echo that is hidden in a sea shell,
the deep sea music;
he heard laughter and singing
and the songs his mother sang to him long ago.

...

At night when I hear them singing far off,
I remember strange and quiet things,
the way the wind bends the grasses
as it blows across the field.
I hear the sound of the rain,
I remember the warm sunlight and the long evening shadows.
I think of the grey night and of the vast sea
and I remember all I have forgotten
that ever made me happy or sad.

...

https://www.themarginalian.org/2022/09/30/the-dark-wood-of-the-golden-birds-margaret-wise-brown