~ Refuge ~

~ Refuge ~

 



She ventured deep into the woods this time

deep enough to get lost

as she wasn't merely seeking out the moon

this time, she was seeking refuge

 

the wooded floor was soft on bare feet

blanketed in lush ferns, bright green moss

and the occasional golden pinecone

shimming off to the side

bathed in the silver light of the crescent moon

hanging just so against an otherwise deep indigo sky

 

she caught glimpses of the light

but could not find the source through the trees

confused, she did not know where to look

until she stopped looking

 

right in front of her

sat the most exquisite creature she had ever seen

calm, quiet, wise

a vision in silver and gold and white

possessing a softness she longed to feel

was this the refuge she sought?

 

the barn owl studied her a moment

and then she heard his words:

 

"some people are nobody's enemies but their own."

 

she would have thought it odd

hearing words from a barn owl

had she not been struck by the accuracy of his words

 

"pardon me?" she replied

 

the barn owl turned his head

from side to side to side

until she felt like he had looked

into every angle of her soul

 

"my dear child,

you did not come into the forest to become lost.

you were already lost before you came here.

now tell me, who do you really seek to protect?"

 

intrigued and humbled, she sat down beside the barn owl

 

"I used to think it was only myself," she began

"but I suppose it's more than that.

I seek in others that which I am,

and I fear finding what I seek;

such that, I will often abort the journey.

perhaps it is because I think so much

of warm and sensitive hearts,

that I would spare them from being wounded...

both theirs, and mine."

 

the barn owl spread out his wings

and drifted down off his perch

to stand beside the girl

 

"close your eyes, and reach out your hand," he instructed

 

she closed her eyes, and reached out a tentative hand

the barn owl met her reach

and his feathers brushed her fingertips

she marveled at their contrast

some feathers were soft as down

and others sturdier, heavier

there was both a softness and strength to him

but then she felt a small gap

between a couple of his feathers

she opened her eyes and looked at him.

 

"yes, it is a scar.  A battle scar from long ago
and it has not completely healed.

but remember this, my child:

those who are wounded, can still fly"

 

and with that, the barn owl spread his wings

and took off into the night

she watched him soar above the trees

through the indigo sky

and beyond the crescent moon

that had eluded her earlier

 

light
love
scars
flight
warmth and sensitivity

softness and strength

calm
quiet
wise

 

she was the moon and the owl

she was her own refuge.

 

 

 

(c) Dahlia Ramone:  December 27, 2018

 

This was written for Blogophilia

Week 43.11 Topic:  Silver and Gold

 

Bonus Prompts:

Hard (2 pts):  Incorporate a quote from Oliver Twist *

Easy (1 pt):  Include a crescent moon

 

* "Some people are nobody's enemies but their own."

 

* "It is because I think so much of warm and sensitive hearts,

that I would spare them from being wounded."