Unrealized Transformation

Winter Gray at Techny Park

I have never seen an owl, but I have seen pictures. I don’t remember if they ever appeared in my dreams. There they could come in many forms representing, so I’ve heard, good luck or bad or death or wisdom perhaps with the sprinkling of Merlin’s understanding of reality. Unfortunately, like most people, the scientific nonsense I believe in, without being aware of it, would still keep me from taking such dreams seriously. It’s really too bad. Maybe the owl has brought me bad luck through the back door? Maybe, because I refuse to take that deep, transforming breath and become as wise as those owls are said to be, I deserve all my current blindness? Maybe this, too, will all turn out well in the end?

OWL WISE AND BOLD
WINTER VIEW IS CLEAR BUT COLD
PEACEFUL FALLING SNOW

Text: Linked to dVerse Haibun Monday. Victoria is hosting with the theme “owl”.

Photo: A winter scene in Techny Park from last year by the author.

Author: Frank Hubeny

I enjoy walking, poetry and short prose as well as taking pictures with my phone.

59 thoughts on “Unrealized Transformation”

  3. I tell you what i will be irrational enough for both of us. Actually i think that is why community is so important. It allows us to see others viewpoints. ..if we let it. I mean if we were all the same how bland would that be?

    The owl is interesting in that so many give such different and contradictory meanings it could mean anything.

    You haiku feels like an exhale.

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  5. Wow! You’ve never see an owl, Frank? I stroked one at a display of birds of prey at Hoveton Hall Gardens, just down the road from us. They are the most amazing creatures and well worth going to see if you get the chance. Nothing wise about it – just pure wonder.

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  7. “Unfortunately, like most people, the scientific nonsense I believe in …”

    What a fantastic self-awareness regarding your imagination maybe being limited — I think you’re expressing a desire to embrace more magic and mysticism, and I love that.

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  8. I have not seen one either Frank but would love to as I live in a city ~ I read of them, and who knows, maybe they are true ~ I love the imagery of peaceful falling snow ~

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    1. Thanks, Grace! I currently live in an urban area although there are forest preserves. There may be owls, but I haven’t really looked for them thinking they must live in more rural areas.

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    1. I have seen Disney’s Archimedes. I may have seen real owls, but I was unaware of what I was looking at. (Of course, if they bring bad luck, as some believe, it might be a good thing I haven’t seen them. 🙂 ) Thank you, Mary!

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  11. I am a dreamer and believe messages come to us through our dreams. I am open to different interpretations and allow myself to ponder the abstract. I am not sure that is always a good idea, but it is who I am. I enjoyed your reading.

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  12. Owls can’t be easily seen, mainly because it’s nocturnal. But if you keep an eye open you might spot one. I find it to be a wonder bird with all the significance and symbols attributed to it. A nice haibun, Frank.

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    1. It is an amazing bird. It’s eyes both look forward and it sees in the dark. I can see how people associate the bird with wisdom. I don’t understand the bad luck, but that might be my misinterpretation of some stories. Thank you, Sumana!

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  14. Ah, don’t be rough on yourself Frank. You just haven’t lived with owls, or jaguars or pythons. But maybe Merlin’s magic stirs you when you think of Volkswagons, or Jets or Robins or trains.

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    2. I’d feel more comfortable with owls than jaguars and pythons. Who knows what they’ll do next? I have no fear of the machines except to get out of their way. Thanks, Sabio!

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  15. I’m sure there are owls around here, but I only see hawks “in the wild” so to speak. Zoos don’t count I don’t think.
    The haiku is a perfect contrast to the prose. (K)

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    1. I haven’t seen one in a zoo either, but then I haven’t really looked intently for owls. I will try to correct that the next time I’m at a zoo, but I agree with you: zoos don’t count. I’m glad you liked this!

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  16. Smiling I am….and thinking this: the curse of the scientific mind 🙂 My husband is a scientist and I sometimes need to remind him of the need to search for the wonder 🙂 .

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    1. It is a kind of curse. I’m a mathematician by training. I can believe in all kinds of mathematical nonsense without thinking twice about it, but owls, good luck, bad luck? I will pay more attention to them–lift the curse. Thank you, Lillian!

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    1. That is the challenge. And some of the things I believe I don’t even yet know that I believe them. Rather than trying to rationalize what I believe, I should try rationalizing what I don’t believe and see if it is better. Thank you!

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  19. Oh my. the myth of something bring bad luck. …that I do not believe in. I love the haiku though – it is an excellent example of its kind. Sometimes you are right – we don’t know what we are looking at because we don’t have a previous frame of reference. If you have the chance, don’t pass up making the acquaintance of an owl. sometimes children’s and science museums will put raptors on display. Gorgeous birds!

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    1. I am surprised I’ve never seen one, but then I’ve never looked for them either. In Mary Oliver’s “Owls and Other Fantasies” that Victoria recommended, Oliver seems to like screech owls, saw-whets and snowy owls best, but not the great horned owl who is more of a predator. Even without going into the mythologies they have interesting differences. That might explain the different features people associate with owls. I find it hard to believe they bring bad luck (or good for that matter), but scientific nonsense might be getting in my way. Thanks, Toni!

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    1. The scientific is only the models made from measurements coming from observing reality’s surface aspects. It gets authority from making accurate predictions but only about that surface it measures. There is more which I find hard to see since the surface stands out. Thank you, Namratha!

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  22. I love this line: “Unfortunately, like most people, the scientific nonsense I believe in, without being aware of it, would still keep me from taking such dreams seriously. ” Interesting that here owls doesn’t stand for wisdom and science but dreams, superstitions and maybe the paranormal. Here, the owl knocks, a guide to interpret your dreams and the somewhat conflicted reluctant poet/scientist bends his rational mind to write a haiku — with it’s cutting juxtapositions ending everything with a “peaceful” scene. feels very zen to me. balance is created without balance. pretty cool.

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  24. Sands of time
    Never Existing
    Waves Polish
    Grains
    Quartz
    Clarity
    Diamond
    Struggles Bring
    Fire of SoUL Sublime
    Ethereal DreAM Fruition
    Deeper
    Abyss
    Ocean
    Blues Rising
    Springs Moon
    SuN
    FaLL
    WarM OwL
    eYes wHo LoVE..:)

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