That said, the invisible tree singers are out. I have never seen a cicada in a tree or seen one singing, they are so well camouflaged, and yet they loudly proclaim their presence. Sometimes we find the abandoned exoskeleton of a nymph clinging to the side of a tree or a building, but I've never seen one emerge.
However a few days ago we were giving this present.
This beautiful creature has been living underground as nymph anywhere from eleven to seventeen years and we just happened to be at the right place at the right time to see it still clinging to its exoskeleton. What are the odds?
I learned while trying to find a nice video of their song that they come in a variety of sizes and sing a variety of different songs. This clip was taken in Texas and the sound is just like what we're hearing in our yard.
Though I know their noise bothers some, I love the song of the cicada. In fact I wrote a song about their music many years ago. Too bad you can't hear the melody.
Here are the words to:
Cicada Lullaby
Simmering summer, shimmering heat waves
Grass turning brown in the sun.
Crystalline waters sparkle with diamonds
Amid the trees there's a song being sung.
ChiRoo, ChiRah, ChiRye
ChiRoo, ChiRah, ChiRye
ChiRoo, ChiRah, ChiRye
It's the cicada lullaby.
Laughter of children playing in rivers
Butterflies float on the breeze
The rustle of oak leaves, cheeping of sparrows
High overhead there's a song in the trees.
ChiRoo, ChiRah, ChiRye
ChiRoo, ChiRah, ChiRye
ChiRoo, ChiRah, ChiRye
It's the cicada lullaby.
Warm breezes blowing to cool the brow
The sweat of hard labor is done
Deep blue the bright sky with dancing fairies
While in the leaves there's a song being sung.
ChiRoo, ChiRah, ChiRye
ChiRoo, ChiRah, ChiRye
ChiRoo, ChiRah, ChiRye
It's the cicada lullaby.
Sunlight that's fading with colors blazing
Shadows that fade with the sun
My love beside me, my old dog here too
We hear the song in the trees being sung.
ChiChiRoo, ChiChiRah, ChiChiRye
ChiChiRoo, ChiChiRah, ChiChiRye
ChiChiRoo, ChiChiRah, ChiChiRye
It's the cicada lullaby.
It's the cicada lullaby!
Have you ever heard cicadas? Do they sing for you, or are they just noisy bugs?
