Golden-winged, silver -winged,
Winged with flashing flame,
Such a flight of birds I saw,
Birds without a name;
Singing songs in their own tongue
Song of songs-they came.
One to another calling,
Each answering each.
One to another calling
In their proper speech:
High above my head they wheeled,
Far out of reach.
On wings of flame they went and came
With a cadenced clang:
Their silver wings tinkled,
Their golden wings rang;
The wind it whistled through their wings.
Where in Heaven they sang
They flashed and they darted
Awhile before mine eyes,
Mounting, mounting, mounting still,
In haste to scale the skies,
Birds without a nest on earth,
Birds of Paradise.