The Owl Kingdom

By Aubrey Lynch

The trees have bright, yellow eyes

which stand out against the night skies,

that look like deep, black water.

The stars dot the skies like foam.

The wind swishes and swirls and laps

at leaves and feathers

like a current.

The moon gapes,

a white glowing hole

in the sky

the same way water,

running white over a rock,

may look like a hole in a stream.

Many sleep, humans in houses

and foxes in burrows

and birds in nests,

but the owls sing

with the crickets.

“Who?” They demand to know.

Who are you, o creature of the day,

who has left the safety of the daytime realm?

Who are you, o traveler,

to walk amongst the trees

and scare the crickets

into silence?

What crimes have driven you away,

deep into the dark swirling night?

But worry not.

The Owl Kingdom,

this kingdom of the night,

is all that can judge you.

So welcome to the Owl Kingdom,

where you will be judged for your crossing.

Aubrey Lynch ‘23 was born in Pennsylvania.