31. Rabbi Yosi quotes, "The flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing bird has come and the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land" (Shir Hashirim 2:12). "The flowers" allude to the six levels: CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD. In the phrase, they "appear on the earth," EARTH ALLUDES TO MALCHUT. The "flowers" are forms that are not revealed at any level other THAN MALCHUT. "The time of the singing bird has come" SIGNIFIES THAT WHEN THE SHECHINAH, CALLED SONG, IS INSPIRED WITH THE SPIRITUAL LIGHT OF CHOCHMAH, then is the time for praise and glorification, as is written: "So that he may sing your praise and not be silent" (Tehilim 30:13). MALCHUT is therefore called 'song,' as we have learned from the words, "a song for David" (Tehilim 3:1) AND NOT "DAVID'S SONG" (TEHILIM 24:1). THIS INDICATES that first David was inspired by the Shechinah. This is WHY IT IS SAID THAT "the time of the singing bird has come." FIRST THE SHECHINAH (CALLED "SONG") REACHED HIM; ONLY THEN DID HE START SINGING AND PRAISING. Rabbi Chiya said THAT THE TIME OF SONG HAS COME; THIS should be understood literally as "the time of praise has come," MEANING THAT AFTER RECEIVING THE SPIRITUAL LIGHT, IT IS TIME FOR PRAISE. HE DISAGREED THAT THE SHECHINAH OF HASHEM IS CALLED "SONG."