Wednesday, April 22, 2026

The call of the wild

​I love evening chores. At least twice a week, maybe more, you’ll hear me grumble and say, “I hate _________” fill in the blank: goats (most often), dogs, cats, ducks, chickens, roosters, etc. But really, I love choring. 

The evening wears on, 

Times runs thin,

And twilight rules the moment. 

As the sun disappears 

And evening stretches to night 

I see them silhouetted 

in the treetops. 

Then I hear the Huh-hooooo huh-hooooooo! 

As one calls to the other. 

Then there is a Hooo-hoooo 

Of a response. 

And I know they both are there.

I rejoice about it,

Then I take a pause 

And think

“Where are the kittens?” 

“Where’s Maddie?”

I say to them-

“Pick on critters that aren’t pets!”

And I call out “huh-hoo huh-hoo!”

They call back and assure me

They’ll pursue an easy meal

No matter its status. 

I remind them that Maddie

Is not Kevlar protected.

No raptor will easily carry her off. 

No amount of huh-hoooing 

will make her vulnerable this time. 

Their calls are thrilling

And always just a little chilling. 

-Carrie Horn

4-21-26

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