Will You Sing?

Edelweiss, will you sing for me?
I had an eagle, but he would not cry for me.
He sang once, but now no more.
He has perched on his roost and will cry no more.
Edelweiss, will you sing for me?
"I can not sing for you," said the Edelweiss,
"For I have my own singing to do. Ask the Titihoya,
Perhaps he can sing for you."

Titihoya, will you cry for me?
I asked the Edelweiss, but she could not sing for me,
She is too busy to sing a song for me,
In my land there is no more singing, only silent weeping.
Please, Titihoya, will you cry for me?
"I am sorry, I cannot sing for you," mourned the Titihoya,
"If I went and cried in your land, who would sing in my own?
Ask the Eagle, he must sing for you."

So I returned to my own land, back to where I left you roosting.
Eagle, Eagle, please sing again for me.
Let there be no more silent weeping,
I asked the Edelweiss, and she could not sing for me,
I asked the Titihoya, and he could not cry in my land,
They have their own songs to sing, their own lands to cry in.
So you must sing, and I must sing,
And fill our own land with song again.

-Andrea Graham

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