JoAnn Early Macken

 

Apr 14, 2017 8:25 AM EDT

Wonderful poem and photos. Love spotting owls in our back yard and hearing their hoots :). "Feather duster chick" made me smile.

- jama

Apr 14, 2017 9:59 AM EDT

Thank you, Jama! My husband finds an owl nest almost every year. The photo is from last year's family.

- JoAnn Early Macken

Apr 14, 2017 12:08 PM EDT

Appreciations for creating & sharing this vivid life lesson in poem form about that fallen owlet who is like a "feather duster" * the storm-torn nest.
"draped like curtains down the old tree’s trunk." How hopeful to know the parents were not giving up. (Even if it is difficult to see another animal torn up for dinner.

(As a personal aside, our gal in Boston witnessed something similar on the campus of Northeastern just this week, with cries/screams of the animal the raptor caught, no less. . . .)

Your poems always move me, JoAnn. So good to visit on Poetry Friday.

- Jan/Bookseedstudio

Apr 14, 2017 1:18 PM EDT

Glad owls are safe and sound, JoAnn. I was nervous. Thank you for this lovely poem. I, too, loved "feather duster chick." Such a great image! -- Christie @ https://wonderingandwondering.wordpress.com/blog/

- Christie Wyman

Apr 14, 2017 2:26 PM EDT

This poem had me in its grip, JoAnn! What a fantastic story (and an incredible photo, too). I especially love the juxtaposition of tearing apart prey in one line and feather duster chick in the next. I was so excited to see an owl asleep in our back yard a few weeks ago. It was my first sighting!

- Michelle Heidenrich Barnes

Apr 14, 2017 3:04 PM EDT

Oh, thank you all! The nest is in a yard a few blocks away from our house. We walk over often to spy on the owls. We worried when we saw the nest in shreds, so we were happy to see the family reunited.

- JoAnn Early Macken

Apr 14, 2017 7:17 PM EDT

Great poem, and I'm so glad it has a happy ending!

- Linda Kulp Trout

Apr 15, 2017 4:11 AM EDT

Owls fascinate me and I was in the grips of your poem from start to finish. I'm so relieved it had a happy ending. I love the "feather duster chick" description and delighted in your fantastic photo.

- Molly Hogan

Apr 15, 2017 5:15 AM EDT

Great photo! Glad your poem had a happy ending!

- Mary Lee Hahn

Apr 15, 2017 8:04 AM EDT

Wonderful photo, and I like the drama in the poem.

- Brenda at friendlyfairytales.com

Apr 15, 2017 1:34 PM EDT

Beautiful capture of this moment, JoAnn. A favorite memory is walking with my husband's aunt on their farm, watching for the great horned owls in their woods. I've seen crows help others, love that you included that, too.

- Linda Baie

Apr 16, 2017 5:20 AM EDT

Thanks, everyone! Yes, I'm relieved about the happy ending, too! I looked for the family yesterday, but they were all hidden again. While writing the poem, I found several sources online that explained how an owlet can climb a trunk. At least now I know they can move around safely even though the owlet can't fly yet.

- JoAnn Macken

Apr 16, 2017 1:13 PM EDT

Wow, that must have been quite an experience. I love listening to the owls call to one another in our woods. Nice work.

- Doraine BEnnett

Apr 16, 2017 3:17 PM EDT

I'm glad to learn of the happy ending for the little owl and the bigger ones. I frequently hear owls around our place, but I haven't looked for them. I'm tempted to go on an owl hunt to see what I might spy!

- Kay Jernigan McGriff