An owl woke me this morning! Of course, it was way before daylight and for a moment, I didn’t recognize it. The soft “who” came again. It was an owl–the first one I’ve heard in years. He stayed around a while, calling. Maybe he wanted to be good and sure I was out of bed. So, I got up, made a pot of Folger’s, and came to the computer. What a great way to greet the day!
Is there a “Blackbird Winter”? Every year about this time, large groups of blackbirds swoop in, stay for a while, and swoop out again. The past few mornings, my front lawn looks like blackbirds or Grackles or whatever they are, are holding a convention.
They are probably finding dormant insects below the grass and are doing a lot of good in ridding the lawn of pests. I do not spray my lawn for bugs.
Birds eat them and with all the insecticides and herbicides in this world, birds and bees and butterflies have a tough time living. We have no reason to wonder why bees are disappearing.
It’s neat that some birds travel in families. I like to think they enjoy each other’s company and discuss where they will go next. Sparrows sometimes settle down for the night in the honeysuckle vines on the back fence. As they twitter and chirp, are they talking about the happenings of the day and wishing each other a good night?
It must have been at least ten years ago that I last heard an owl. It was here in town and inspired me to pen a short poem. That’s one of the things that’s so neat about this Arkansas town. Fields, pastures, and woods are just a block or two away. It’s great to think that some of God’s wild creatures are my neighbors.
Neighborhood Owl
There’s an owl in the neighborhood. I heard him late last night
When the wind was wild and restless and the moon was round and white.
I hurried to my window but nothing I could see
Showed anyone in all the town had wakened–only me.
Owls live in the forest where trees are dark and tall
But I am sure that here in town I heard a night owl call.
Love your poem, Blanche! You made me feel like I was right there with you…I so enjoy feeling I’m the only one awake in the wee hours. It’s like having a mysterious secret that everyone else is missing!
Sometime I can hear an owl in my neighborhood, too. Far off, like the train in the night! Both give me peaceful feelings of nostalgia. : )
Thank you again for sharing!
Thanks for writing, Fran. I’m glad I’m not the only one to hear an owl in town. Yes, I love the feeling it gives me too. Owls are my favorite birds…owls and whippoorwills. The Lord made them really special and they always make me think of home.