The Owls

At night
the owls call
from one to another

one above
here on Birch Street
calls to the other
on Cedar Street
who relays
the message to
another
on Elm Street

and we listen
as they talk
in soothing hoots

the message
is not for us

but it sounds
old
earnest
persistent
patient

as the cold air
prompts us
back
indoors

onward
they call
to one another

solitary raptors
reaching out
into the quietof the night.