oh old barn owl
you turn left, you turn right
what do you look for?
barn owl snowy roof
skeletal trees night watcher
in moments hunter
Her wild barn owl fantasy started in the middle of the night
But while she was dreaming, two boys came into sight
One was carrying a teddy bear, which was trailing behind.
Don’t lose your baby! I called out, for this dream was mine!
I have seen masks that give me a fright
But the barn owl masks are truly not right
They turn the warriors into crying babies.
Running away as if we all have rabies.
The barn owl masks are spooky for sure.
They have scared the Trojans and Aztecs pure.
We think this is why the Mayans ran away.
Have you seen them? Asked my frightened Cousin May.
October evening, gold and gray
Storm clouds gather up above
Winds will whisper, trees will sway
With barn owls and with mourning doves
October evening, gray and gold
Soon the lantern shall be lit
And hoards of specters, young and old
Like moths, will all be drawn to it.
At harvest time
Where a white ghost flies
Across a blood red moon
Behind the fields the rolling hills
Are purple, pink and blue
Over a dreaming wheat field
A barn owl patrols
Noiselessly it glides
Over the golden yellow drifts
Suddenly, it flaps its wings
And stares down intently
Below on the soil a startled vole
Sees a white star fall
A squeak and the owl is gone
And with it the limp vole.
Barn owl lands on the soft grass
With a giant whump
Scaring away mice and chipmunks
They scatter in many directions
A garter snake was not as lucky
He gets carried off in giant talons
Lunch for owlets
Barn owl gave up on finding a barn in Topeka country side.
He kept finding one, but it was occupied by a groom or bride.
A flower patch welcomed him, where he sat down and cried.
Until another barn owl discovered him and welcomed him inside.
Now he and his bride have a fine barn with a roof and such.
He still thanks the flower patch yearly, and very much.
They gave him a place to wait for his lovely bride to discover.
And now he has a flower patch, and also lovely winter cover.
Is it a hoot owl? Someone queried.
I had no idea. Wondering myself.
There are so many kinds of owls.
I had researched them.
It is probably not a barn owl I guessed.
For the barn had been torn down.
Two nights later I discovered my error.
Staring at me from the top of an elm tree was a large barn owl.
She looked at me in an accusing way.
How long will it take to rebuild that barn? I asked my husband.
she watches the stars
embraced by warm evening air
a barn owl screeches
For: Owl Haiku Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Robert James Liguori
October 14, 2021
Shooting stars or meteor shower?
Smiling eyes or evil glower?
Friendly smile or sinister plan?
Deranged killer or family man?
Blue waves lapping or cold grey sea?
Sunshine sky or burning skin?
Moonlit night or shadowed wolf?
Dark unseen cry or barn owl mooch?
Green, green grass or battlefield?
Peaceful sight or blind mind feel?
Standing still or running away?
Time for your dreams or no time left today?
Loving eyes or fools lullabies?
Holding hands or bleeding fists?
Reflection of you or is it someone else?
Mind asking questions or heart casting spells?
Real love or real fake?
Real life or living hate?
Do we see each other or do we dance in the rain?
Do we see the scars or do we feel the pain?
Do we look for a reason or don’t we hesitate?
Barn owl
silently swoops
spreading its wings, talons
wide with striking impact snatching
its prey.
2/2/2020
Modern Or Traditional Cinquain Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: William Kekaula
the barn swallow swoops
onto a large hay bale
startling the owl
Break Forest Quiet
The Shrill of a Barn Owl
The Job Accomplished
I often wonder where you go
wise sentinel, who somehow knows
that days grow long, time sways and bends.
You stay awhile, become our friend
Then off you fly, when summer ends
What becomes of one we've grown to know
who holds the night, on wings composed
You perch, clung to a red-tiled scope
upon the ridge, the barn roof's slope
in the shadow of the evening's grace
a silhouette on moonlight's face
You are keeper of the nightly dark
a ticking clock, when midnight sparks
with one eye closed to mock our sleep,
the other eye revolves to keep
a world in check 'till morning creeps
When first the chill of autumn's call,
I look for you as twilight falls
But, halls of dark are lonely now
Without you there, wind can't compare
Oh, where, oh, where, my friend are you?
For now, I see, the roof is bare
Wind echoed, last, a midnight tune
it called for you, but you weren't there
in silhouette against the moon
________________________
Contest: "To A "
Sponsor: David Lindsay
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