…the universal truth of a broken owl
suddenly shattered by a strand of barbed wire,
gone from magnificent pursuer to wheeling
wreck of hollow bones, his wing flailing, cloud
of down and feathers floating like incense,
his body an aspergil splattering blood onto
Indian Grass, anointing this flinty place
of sacrifice just as the last hint of starlight
implodes in his failing eyes, as he goes the way
of a lightning bolt or a gust of prairie wind…
— Roy J. Beckemeyer
The Coop: A Poetry Cooperative 
Stark imagines, Roy. Quite descriptive and lovely.
As the Kansas poems have been posted, I have been amazed at their quality over and over again. I’ve enjoyed reading several of the poets a lot, and this poem is no exception. The tale of the owl caught in barbed wire is tragic and descriptive. To the Stars Through Difficulty as a title, however, suggests that something more than a tragedy happens even
as he goes the way
of a lightning bolt or a gust of prairie wind…
A great poem!
Ronda and Thomas – I am pleased and humbled by your warm comments. Thank you.