while waiting for the night-bird’s song
this indigo night we have snow
in snow you can not wait too long
the night-bird might be frozen stiff
let’s wait some more, if we don’t go
there ‘s always if, in deadly snow
we might find out it still does live

this indigo night we have snow
just walking in dreams with no sound
slender with grace the trees do bow
deep under the load that they bear
we know there is wildlife around
eyes lighten, move, not to be found
while hiding in holes everywhere

in snow you can not wait too long
still the night-bird might be living
if all is well and nothing wrong
so we stand here and wait some more
for the music it’d be giving
all are waiting, all the living
like we waited in nights before

the night-bird might be frozen stiff
how will we know what happened here
so many creatures will not live
by dawn, they’ll be deep frozen stills
a cry somewhere, of dead and fear
may be a stray dog or a deer
or something that the night-bird kills

let’s wait some more, if we don’t go
we may hear how the night-bird sings
and if it does, then we will know
that what we heard was more than life
it is one of the finest things
when in the snow a night-bird sings
and keeps it up till after five

there’s always if, in deadly snow
what if we stay and never leave
why would we bother now to go
is it much better where we live
is there more hope or more belief
where all are hurting in their grief
while here the night bird wants to give

we might find out it still does live
the bird, the world, the hope for more
than what this winter had to give
if we just wait here in this cold
we have survived this way before
it is too far to the front door
so what we freeze and won’t be old