R.E. Slater - The Owl and the Night Wind (a poem)

The Owl and the Night Wind

by R.E. Slater

The Owl spoke to the grey night wind

each evening in the gathering dark.

Each proceeding in twain evensong

twin sepulchers to night's hastening drift.

As night wind wafted in gentle voice

speaking to a sun-whitened moon greyly lit.

Shining pale across evening’s restless shorelines

flashed upon a silvery water’s tumbling wake.

Each praising starlight’s sustaining graces

bourne a summertime’s waning warmths.

Lifted on a weary wind’s ceaseless cares

across shoreline and seaside’s heaving breast.

Across burnished swales of darkened dunes

silent guardians to night's soundless keeps.

Then hushed in the willowy strands of poplars

risen above tipping uneasily their gnarly perch.

Slipping in-and-out of their bedtime chambers

coloured in drowsy repose of dappled silhouette.

Where once was heard a wizened Owl

beneath windblown canopies now saged.

Breathing a settled, stilling silence entombing

no further transgress nor wander its sudden stranger.

Holding fast the feet of it’s tempted traveller

absorbed in night’s fleeting dreams and thoughts.

Transfixed somber evensong’s moonlit sonatas

playing melancholy notes off its beating breast.

Beating time with shoreline's moaning tides

breathlessly composed to the tilted ear.

Where wind and moon, wave and tide, bestirred

temple’d wanderers adrift heavenly altars fixed.

Pressing forward, not by force, nor will,

but by passion’s sweet siren songs alluring.

Each filling evening's restless grace

within hidden solitudes of greying light.

Somberly intoning nocturnal compositions

where once crept things dark and dread.

And there inspiring abiding devotion

before myriad fears fraught and frayed.

Sped a feebled heart’s restless prayers

there betrothed a breathless deep.

Once peering into empty voids and chasms

like breezes bended upon a rising wind.

Hearing but only echoing silence

where no silence had ever been.

Whispering yesterday’s tumbling tomorrows

glancing across quicksilver’d rays of joy.

Becoming one with earth and sky abroad

Inhaling a deepening bliss preserved.

Begun on a solitary vespered eve

glimmering silvery trust and content.

Knowing all will be well no matter the hour

Lifted onto the wings of the grey night wind.

R.E.Slater

orig. July 30, 2012,

rev. Aug 29, Sept 23, 2012; Feb 22, 2013; Jan 16, 2015; Sept 13, 2017

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