Winged Presence

Past dusk     it has been a long
day.     Now on foot with groceries
thinking of the approaching
holiday, thankful.

In sight of my apartment
complex     I walk into a pool
of darkness     and a great
winged presence lifts
from near my right
foot     and flies silently up
to a branch well above my head
several yards away.     It’s an owl,
very large, but I can’t tell
what kind it is. Forgive me,
but I must admit I apologized
to the owl     for disturbing it.

In my apartment I turn off
the light, look to where I think
the owl settled.     I can’t see
the owl, can’t know what
the owl knows. It’s out there,
preparing to call a name
or two or three     or perhaps more.
Perhaps this time it’s here simply
for mole or rodent.

I may not hear my name
called tonight or tomorrow
but the day     is approaching.

Like the owl, I am not afraid.
The owl reminds me of the present,
reminds me to live fully, fiercely
reminds me to live now.
For this     I am so thankful.

The owl is out there
somewhere, sees more
than I’ll ever see, knows more
than I’ll ever know.     I am
so thankful.

Andrew Shattuck McBride

**

For those of you in the United States who celebrate Thanksgiving this day, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Blessings to you and yours.

Sincerely, and cheers, Andrew