The Voice of the Turtle

"For, lo, the winter is past,
the rain is over and gone;
the flowers appear on the earth;
the time of the singing of birds is come,
and the voice of the turtle
is heard in our land..."
--Song of Solomon 2:11-12 (KJV)

Yesterday on my walk, I saw turtles out again at Salmon Creek. A sure sign of spring!

As a child, I loved the idea of turtles vocalizing, especially since our pet box turtle never uttered a sound. It made me think of an entire chorus of turtles, singing with utter un-selfconsciousness.

Now, of course, I know the poem refers to turtledoves (in the original Hebrew)...
but part of me still wishes I could hear the turtles' song.