Great Horned Owl

An owl's cry at night

Has right-of-way to my soul,

And sets me soaring, ticketless;

The owl calls out for love,

Declares residency

In abandoned crown of fan palm,

His presence older than the iron horse

I hear traversing edges of town.

The hoots punctuate, stretch, pulse

Through particulate air,

Reminding me of the left behind, the

Yet to do,

It is old, new, adamantine, restless

I am old, new, adamantine, restless

Laura Stickney 2022

Notes:

fan palm--palm trees planted around

Los Angeles

iron horse--locomotive

adamantine--unyielding