YOUNG SCREECH OWL.
Photo by Rev. Wallace Rogers.

Then Wisdom’s proud bird, that old mystical fake,

While breakfasting late on a daring young snake,

Cried “Boo to y-o-u, hoot for y-o-u! Who-whoo—are-y-o-u?”

Till down in my heart I felt humbled anew.

But hope was revived by an echo of Night—

For Night has her echoes and pledges of Light—

“You can, if you will, a high mission fulfill.”

Insistently whistled the lone Whip-poor-will.