owls

poem by Ruth Salles

Woodcut by Monica Stein Aguiar

,

the moon lights
lighten the shadows,
and the voices of birds
that fly in the nights
dark, dark,
sigh, whisper:
"Mu-ru-cu-tu-tu..."

In the towers, in the branches
of the quiet trees,
serene owls
round-eyed
spy, spy,
peek, peep.
"Mu-ru-cu-tu-tu..."

noises, rumors
in the hours,
they are light, they are few,
but always these birds
listen, listen,
spy, spy.
"Mu-ru-cu-tu-tu..."

the wings lift
– what a night of terrors! –
Your silent flight…
Your secret flight…
slide in the night
two eyes lit!
"Mu-ru-cu-tu-tu..."

***