A Sonnet on Honing in on that Necessary Voice

and ignoring that snobbish, self-righteous, manipulating, self-seeking, gatekeeper voice, in order to do what you know you need to do

One of the biggest influences in my life concerning my love of nature is Al Parker. I’ve written a bit about him and my experiences before. It was only fitting, then, that I should write a sonnet in this series about barred owls.

I thought to myself at the end of last month, that my next sonnet would be about barred owls. Shortly after I thought this, like a day or so, I heard a barred owl in my back yard-ish early one morning. It wasn’t calling its usual call, but, as I’ve learned, its mating call.

And then a week or so later, my daughter sent a photo of a barred owl she saw one evening while walking across campus. (She didn’t even know I was thinking of barred owls!)

Anyhow, so, I’ve been struggling to write this sonnet for the past couple weeks, but I’ve finally finished, and it is below. I may write another one, based on the mating call of the owl. But for now, this is the one.

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Sonnet 2.XV - Barred Owl's Baritone

Al Parker trained our ears to hear your voice
   So when, in dark and calm I hear your call,
   I step out back and try to not make noise,
   and wait to hear again, "Who cooks for you all!?"
Your voice, it pulls me through supernal wall,
   it opens up my mind, you're there, I know.
   It gets inside my chest and does enthrall.
   Your baritone refrain disarms your foe.
Like sword, your song cuts through the forest growth
   and clears the clutter of discordant noise.
   There's nothing else important or of note
   in moments when I hear your owl voice.
It's quick and brings me back to innocence,
   to when bearded Al taught us your resonance.

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