Thorn In My Side

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 thorn. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to outsing the lark and the nightingale. One supreme song, very costly. But the whole world stills to listen. For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain... or so the legend says.