The White Owl (La Lechusa) Part 1 Poem by Juan Olivarez

The Lechusa rested in the tree.
Big saucer eyes staring at me.
They bore deep into my soul,
Penetrating deep, deeper than the cold.
I scared it off with sticks and stones,
As the winter chill caressed my bones.

Darkness was all around no light at all,
When I saw it flying back.
And I heard it scream a demonic call,
As it landed on the roof of the old tool shack.

And once again it stared at me,
As I stood under the ebony tree.
Then it flew at me, with it's eyes on fire,
hitting head first on the telephone wire.

It caught it's bearings and came once more,
I screamed and froze under the tree.
I knew I'd never make it to the door,
Those fiery eyes held demonic glee.

Then for some reason it hit the tree,
And got tangled in the lower limbs.
White feathers like snow rained down on me,
Ebony thorns are wicked and grim.

the lechusa screamed and screamed again,
I could see the thorns upon it's face.
I could only imagine the agony and pain,
As I saw on the white face a reddish trace.

9/26/12 Edinburg Texas