Lyrics by Frank DiGiacomo and Julian R. Pace.
Premiere Libretto Artwork by Jennifer Reith.

At the opening of the opera, the curtain rises to reveal the interior of a stable; though near dawn, it is still quite dark. A small boy, Joshua, sits weeping; he is dressed as a shepherd. Next to him on one side is a small, plain brown bird; on the other side, a small harp.

LYRICS
Joshua:
I shall run away from home—
I must run away from home.
I am of no use to my brothers;
I am of no use to anyone.

(The bird moves closer to the boy, who fondles him affectionately.)

Timothy, my Nightingale, you alone know how I feel.
Small and plain, sad and timid,
fearful of all that flies in the air,
fearful of all that crawls in the field,
without even a voice, to sing,
or cry a warning, or woo a bride.
In that I am much luckier than you,
for I have my harp, and a song.

(He picks up his harp, accompanying himself as he sings:)

Timothy, my Nightingale,
where were you tonight
when in the darkness from the field
again I heard the Lion’s roar?
Nightingale, did you hear it too?
Nightingale, are you afraid of the dark,
afraid of the Lion and his roar,
as I am, Nightingale, as I am?

Timothy Nightingale, did you run,

run from your brothers,
run from the roar of the mighty Lion?
Did you fly away and hide yourself
where none could find you in your shame,
as I did, Nightingale, as I did?

Timothy, my Nightingale,
tell me if you can:
of what use is a shepherd
who runs from the Lion, abandons his flock?
Of what use is a bird with no song to sing?
Tell me if you can—
for if I fear all that I see,
and you see nothing which makes you sing,
then this world is not for us, then this world is not for us,
and we must leave it,
mustn’t we, Nightingale, mustn’t we?

(He lowers his head in despair; the Nightingale brushes his head with his wing.