Persistence

The great-horned owlet,
first younster of the year,
made him or herself known
last night,
strident begging calls floating
across our field
in the darkness.

In the cold March rain,

the bluebird pair chose today
to begin nest building,
carrying soggy mouthfuls of last year's grass
to the hanging gourd in the hedgerow,

driven by an internal clock
towards procreation.

Chickadees frequent the feeder in pairs,
and Carolina wrens chortle exuberant duets.
Blue jays pass seeds, mate to mate,
and red-shouldered hawks circle each other in flight,
like an aerial hug.

Soon, all will be on eggs
and the season of new life
will begin.
And when these babies have grown up
and gone their own way,
on into the fall the owlet
will be begging.

I credit the patience
of owls.
It takes a long time to raise
a raptor.