The Owl and the Crow

The Owl and the Crow The hunter captured the owl He brought her home to his castle Inside a cell she was put Away from the rain The owl, never went hungry The majestic avian had the greatest of comforts Perched on a branch in a gilded cage She could gaze at the starlit moon One evening when the hunter warrior returned to his castle The owl, asked Why do keep me from my parliament? Why do you imprison me here in this cage? The brave knight, replied I am sorry for the inconvenience wise one Alas I am a buffoon who knows nothing of this world You are a wise one from the black magical forest You see, I wish from you Your wisdom Here you can impart your wisdom upon me over time Then I too can give guidance to my band of merry men I wish you know harm You shall have the greatest of comforts I apologize for my rough and tumble methods My heart being pure, I seek only your knowledge The owl remained silent For you see that is often the way of the wise ones The knight therefore left to his contemplations As was the owl left to hers Great battles were later fought Great fires ravaged the forests near Great hunts resulted in feasts of wine and yore The owl being wise, softly learned the Knights’ ways After a fresh rain, a crow appeared on the window sill Look, look at this silly imprisoned owl he cried Nor are you brave nor are you free As I the crow flies high-up in the sunlit skies The crow came by daily to mock the owl You silly stupid owl, in a cage As I am free day and night to sore You in that little cage can only snore Again the owl choose the path of silence The crow crowed and crooned Mocking the predicament of the Owl The Owl, even with no parliament became wiser still One day, the crow landed on the windowsill As he said to the owl, you still have not your freedom? A very large Bengal tiger then leapt from the brush The crow existed no more, the Tiger quite content with his meal The owl, being silent, listened to the both life and death She listened to the ancients; the winds and both sun and moon You see on her capture, she was treated like a queen She thus observed early on her cage was never locked She who all thought was imprisoned Was free The Crow who thought he was free Was imprisoned within his own mind She saw the kindness of the knights’ eyes He had not the heart of capture He had the compassion of savior and protector Knowing well hungry tigers prowled outside the castle walls The owl simply grew in her wisdom and admiration Knowing that kindness too can wear a mask She now flies the path of the knights’ adventures Giving solace to him, the kind one with a broken heart Section II The eye of the tiger, bloodthirsty and lean Never to you shall bad deeds fall upon your soul Until, like a jester, you dance to your own deceptions Consumed Wisdom has no voice, no advocate of defense She is carried by the winds Upon those whose hearts wish to make her timeless Loves embrace is often joyous and silent