Thorn Birds Legend
“The Thorn Birds” is a 1977 novel by Colleen
McCullough which describes the setting of Australia in great detail. Having read
this novel in the 1980s, I am sharing here a few lines which are given at the start
of this beautiful piece of fiction. One of the leading character of this book
is Ralph de Bricassart, a priest torn between his vows under oath to his job
and worldly passions. Reading the quote below again after more than two decades
still leaves you speechless for a while…
Thorn Birds Legend
“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 outcarol 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.”
― Colleen McCullough,
The Thorn Birds
No comments:
Post a Comment