Owl Moon By: Jane Yolen

It was late one winter night, Pa and this child went owling. There was no wind and the moon was bright. A train whistle blew, and the farm dog answered it. Another dog howled in for a while. It became quiet and Pa and the child walked toward the woods. Their feet crunched at the crisp snow sometimes the child would run to keep up with his/her father.The child never called out. You must be quiet to go owling. The child had been waiting a long time to go owling with Pa. They reached the line of pine trees and stopped. Pa looked up and called out the sound of a Great Horned Owl. Again, and again her called out. But there was no answer. They both shrugged. The child was not disappointed. They walked on. The child felt cold but did not say anything. You have to be quiet and make your own heat when owling. They went into the woods-child sees the shadows-does not ask about things that hide behind the trees-you have to be brave when owling. They came to a clearing in the dark woods. The moon was high. Pa did his owl call. The child listened and looked very hard. Pa raised his face to call again but before he opened his mouth an echo came through the trees. Pa called back. They both almost smiled. The owl’s call came closer from high in the trees. All of a sudden an owl shadow was seen which flew right over them. The shadow hooted again.  Pa turned on the flashlight and caught the owl just as it was landing on a branch. They were staring at one another. Then the owl pumped its wings and lifted off the branch like a shadow without a sound. It flew back into the forest and Pa said it was time to go home. When you go owling you do not need words or warm or anything but hope-Pa says-hope that flies on silent wings under a shining owl moon.