Owl Vision
By Tom Streeter
Close up of the face of a great gray owl, photographed in southcentral Alaska. (Lisa Hupp/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
From somewhere else another place, further mind, longed for words arrived
Through all obstacles and perceived limitations true essence, meaning uncontrived
Life giving strength of understanding thought now crystallizing becoming clearer
Carefully recognizing familiar signs of feeling gentleness of time moving nearer
Weight of weary wandering being lifted spirit of natural forever life holding me
From somewhere else another place, further mind sight beyond seeing now free
A glance through a window world of wonder where protection from poison is real
Who you are on this journey when your life becomes reflected by how you feel
Traveling a mysterious trail, images forming on the ground a shadow bird in fl ight
Landing close deep gaze turning my way owl’s eyes meet mine darkness is bright
From somewhere else another place, further mind cryptic comfort washes over
Arriving here at this place feeling in touch with presence of expressive soul rover
Attempting to ingest moments of immediate felt experience humbled by this being
Transferring of energy translated by silent light waves discerned by dilated seeing
Existence made of distinct events occurring at certain time full of hidden meaning
From somewhere else another place, further mind recalling fragmented memory
Bits of feeling form sympathetic affinity sensing owl’s struggle for winged liberty
I’ve heard written, things we hold captive and hidden will become our penitentiary
Considered if this raptor was seeing the rudimentary prison bars of my personality
Soft breeze cedar, spruce, and birch incense move mottled feathers obsidian eyes
From somewhere else another place further mind turning my blindness into wise
Great bird springs from limb rapid descension towards the ground then silent rise