How To Build an Owl

1. Decide you must.

2. Develop deep respect
for feather, bone, claw.

3. Place your trembling thumb
where the heart will be:
for one hundred hours watch
so you will know
where to put the first feather.

4. Stay awake forever.
When the bird takes shape
gently pry open its beak
and whisper into it: mouse.

5. Let it go.

By Kathleen Lynch

(via Jack Cheng)

8 Comments leave a comment below

  1. Oh snap. I never heard of Kathleen Lynch before today but I’m buying the book.

  2. This is so so lovely! What a precious little owl …

  3. Hauntingly metaphoric.

  4. …this beautiful instruction set brought to you by :)

  5. Oh, I love it. So sweet and pretty. And touching.

  6. just beautiful.