Whippoorwill

"In the southern mountains,
 the whippoorwill is both omen and messenger of death.
 It is said and believed that if the bird sings in one's
 backyard, there is a death in the family, or shortly will be."
 Clouds have swept across the moon and all the world is still
 Somewhere in the night I hear a lonely whippoorwill
 Brisk upon the midnight air, the call is wild and shrill
 Spilling out his sad lament, a lonely whippoorwill
 Whippoorwill, I hear your lonely cry
 The night is filled with sadness and so ill at ease am I
 Far across the hill, midnight shadows fall
 Somewhere lies a sleeping mate to hear your mournful call
 Now I wish the silent winds would stir into a storm
 And strike this earth with lightning and with rain
 How I long for loving arms to hold and keep me warm
 And hush away your sorrowful refrain
 Peace! Be still and rest this weary night
 Quiet as the velvet wings that carry you in flight
 Fly, fly away, let my world be still
 Go and find your sleeping mate, oh lonely whippoorwill
 Whippoorwill, oh lonely whippoorwill.