"A poor orphan girl named Maria
was walking to market one day
and stopping, she knelt by the roadside
where a bird with a broken wing lay.

A few moments passed til she saw it,
for it's feathers were covered with sand.
But soon cleaned and wrapped it was traveling
in the warmth of Maria's small hand.

She happily gave her last peso
on a cage made of rushes and twine.
She fed it loose corn from the market
and watched it grow stronger with time.

Now the gift-giving service was coming,
and the church shone with tinsel and lights,
and all of the townsfolk brought presents,
to lay by the manger that night.

There were diamonds, and incense, and perfumes
in packages fit for a king.
But for one ragged bird in a small cage,
Maria had nothing to bring.

She waited til just before midnight,
so no one would see her go in.
And crying, she knelt by the manger,
for her gift was unworthy of him.

Then a voice spoke to her through the darkness,
"Maria, what brings you to me?
If the bird in the cage is your offering,
open the door, let me see."

Though she trembled, she did as he asked her,
and out of the cage the bird flew.
Soaring up into the rafters,
on a wing that was healed, good as new.

Just then the midnight bells rang out,
and the little bird started to sing.
A song that no words could recapture,
for it's beauty was fit for a king.

Now Maria felt blessed just to listen
to that cascade of notes sweet and long.
As her offering was lifted to heaven
by the very first Nightingale's song."

A beautiful poem, even for one that does not accept the overall intention and meaning. Happy holidays.