Owl Spotting

by Kath Higgens

In winter light, gum-booted,
we gather, scan trees and sky.
We walk and talk,
surmise where they might be,
note perfect habitat,
tufty tussock-grass, dead trees.

A small black blob catches
Sandra’s eye, worth checking.
To her surprise,
a first for her,
she has one in her sights -
a Little Owl on a branch.

It seems uncanny
that one small dark blob
should turn out to be
our quarry.
Like Meister Eckhart's God
who, hiding in the dark,
gives himself away
occasionally
by coughing.

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Originally from the UK and now living in South Africa via Cameroon, Kath Higgens is a retired field linguist. Her love of poetry and her spiritual path sometimes spills out into writing.