Raymond Humphreys
Twilight Owl
Your round eyes dazzled by our headlights,
we saw you there; a surprised sentinel on a gatepost.
Indignant, you fluffed up your feathers,
gave an angry shake of your form,
and then twisted your head,
closing our electric-gliding boat
from your sight and from your world.
It was only twin carelessnesses of time
that had brought our moments together.
The stars had yet to climb in the sky;
the sun had long since fallen to the west.
Soon, a bend in the canal
banished these intruders from the daytime realm.
You would soon spread strong wings,
bringing dark fear to the crawling creatures,
and we would moor, cursing in the gloom.
As we arced round the cut, I strained to hear your ghostly call.
None came: we had been dismissed from your hunter's mind.
But for a moment, I wondered about you.
And could it be that, somewhere off in the drear dark,
tearing shrews and water-voles for your brood,
or regally retching animal bones and fur,
you wondered about us, too?
Page(s) 60-61
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