The Owl And I

                    The Owl And 

When young, I was on my way to school.

I saw an owl in a tree. He said woo!!

I stopped and said “My name is Sam.”

Now that you know who I am,

who are you? He just said woo!

I was wondering what am I to do?

When all the bird says is woo!

He flew away right after that.

But, the next day, he was back.

Again, I heard him say woo!

I told him who I was too.

“Are you saying woo is your name”

He said woo again. Was it a game?

Then he turned his head way around.

“Doesn’t that hurt?” I said with a frown.

He fluffed his feathers and shook his head.

But, woo was all he ever said.

Soon, he flew away again.

Flying high on the wind.

Next day, he was there, as usual

If he wasn’t, it would be unusual.

I said woo! before he did.

I thought he would flip his lid.

He just looked with big ole eyes.

Shook his head as if to say ‘nice try.’

I tossed him a piece of apple.

He hopped down like going for a rat hole.

He grabbed the apple and returned to the tree.

Then, he gobbled it up real fast, you see.

He said woo! one more time.

Then flew away to see what he could find.

After that, it was a morning routine.

For me not to have an apple would be mean.

Soon, he was taking  it from my hand.

Sometimes, on my arm, he would land.

That day came when I was crossing the street.

I didn’t see the car rushing toward me. Screech.

The owl hit me in the back.

Knocking me out of the car’s track.

The owl had saved my life that day.

For that, I give thanks when I pray.

We remained friends till he started a family.

An old barn, outside of town, was their shanty.

I still see him now and then.

I give him apple because we are friends.

——————————————R.W. Johnson—–(2017)