Variations On A Theme Of Owl Poem by Etienne Charilaou

On the roof -
unmistakable silhouette
of an owl.
Big bird with a
swivel-head.

Silently perched
on my rooftop -
an owl!
Exciting!

Thank you, owl,
for jazzing up my life.
Before I saw you, you saw me
but did not fly away.

Blueberries, a few stars, Jupiter
in the corner, and -
an owl!
At the roof's apex -
so black, cat-like,
a living gargoyle,
a creature of the night,
silent in flight;
scanning for mice;
no need for night vision goggles -
a mouse doesn't stand a chance
if caught in your crosshairs.

It's been a while since I've seen an owl.
I came outside and the sight of the owl
was unexpected. A different evening -
thank goodness!

Unknown to me,
a silent, dark companion
on the roof.
Warm and alive, clothed in feathers,
waiting there, alert and calm;
an embodiment of nature in innocence
and power - like a dragon -
with a peculiar gravity of bearing,
yet so vulnerable to
the callousness of man.
We call thee ‘owl'.

I thought owls were wise
but it appears they are not so.
Other birds are cleverer
but perhaps not as imposing
as the one resting on my roof.

With gladness the last piece
is slotted in to make the whole,
like something unsoiled, unbroken,
unmatched and flawless -
and that piece
is an owl.