I thought I would fit in
at the Owl Factory
assembling the multi-colored
felt owls
matching their personalities
to beady sets of eyes
even the creepy guy
next to me
wasn’t much of a bother
at first…
his smirking critiques
fell off my sallow skin
as if it were waterproof
“Owls aren’t that great, you know
birds of prey
kill small animals
pink flamingos, now that’s where
you want to be
oh look, your eye
is just hanging there….”
He couldn’t shut up
I was hoping they would move him
to crows
but I knew
he wasn’t smart enough
for black birds.
I wanted to stay at my post
knee deep in multi-colored
owl parts
“Really?” Creep said.
“There’s no retirement
or health insurance
in bird décor
so truly
the best hope
of moving past places
of sirens and city grumble
is to grab hold
of the pink flamingos
and maybe
headquarters will consider you
for marketing.”
what’s wrong with making owls?
Not a thing, Jim. Just as long as you align the eyeballs correctly 😀
Ohhhh! align correctly. I was wondering why mine sorta leaned to the left when sitting in a tree.
Now where did you come up with this one? An owl factory!!! I guess someone has to make those birds. I wondered what the Creep looked like! Very creative and whimsical! Well done.
Thanks, Jo! I’ll give you a glimpse into what might have inspired this one: I was making reward systems for young kids I teach. When they participate and do well, they “earn” something. I was going to make owls that sit in a tree. Woohoo, you get one owl in the tree! I found these felt kits at Wally World where the parts needed to be glued together including the little beady eyes. I was attempting to accomplish this with plain old glue (like the directions said). Of course, the regular glue didn’t hold. I was working one afternoon as my spouse was sitting next to me. He knows everything, lol, which helps, right? Well, next thing you know, the Creep was born. Then I thought of factories. Then I thought of women working in factories in the Days of Yore, and even today which is also probably not a cup of tea. 😀
Hehe! I have a little owl with one bigger eye than the other and it looks like someone made a mistake in the owl factory! Lol! But to be honest I rather love it. 😊Much love and keep writing and blogging, Lana! xoxo
That just goes to show that owls are adorable and especially when they have little quirks. I was so happy to bring life at the Owl Factory to light for people, LOL. Thank you so much, Sarah for your kind words and support. xoxo
This is so wonderfully serious and funny and offbeat at the same time, Lana. Love it. Especially the line, “I was hoping they would move him / to crows.” Don’t we all. 🙂
Thanks, Diana. Oh yes, the Creep. Maybe he will get a “promotion” to crows, lol 😀
Very fun, Lana. I love the humor that comes out in a lot of your writing. 🙂
Thanks, Diana!
Hi Lana, been a while. You won’t be making chickens, will you? Since Owls steal chickens and ate them, you may not want trouble in your owl factory. Well please check my last post at mine, you have won a GIVE-AWAY and waiting for your address to post them to you. I loved your Owl poem, very funny!
Hi Juli! Absolutely right, no chickens in my owl factory, lol. Oh my goodness, I won a Give-Away! I’m so excited! Thank you so much!
poor chickens, they don’t stand a chance in the owl factory, but the owl would be more than happy having chickens haha
The owl factory is great, but your character sketch of the creep was A#1. Smirking, not smart enough to assemble black birds, kind of a know-it-all, and what is his fascination with those tacky pink flamingoes? It sounds like the kind of guy who would accuse TSA of stealing his monkey pajamas. Hee hee. 🙂
Oh Joan, you are such an astute reader, he IS definitely the type of guy who would accuse the TSA of stealing monkey pajamas, haha. I may have invented a new character with The Creep, lol. Stay tuned 😀
Love where your imagination takes us Lana. Nothing wrong with making owls. <3
That’s right, Debby, somebody’s gotta do it, haha! 😀
🙂 🙂
[…] (continue reading The Owl Factory) […]
Hello, came to read this through Diana … she has a good eye for owls, not sure about the other one, I seem to remember she has a thing about bats! Taking flight now – Eric.
Thanks for stopping by. Oh yes, I remember she had a thing about bats for sure, haha. 😀
There is a wonderful story tucked into your poem, your words transported me and I laughed out loud at the Creep not being able to handle the blackbirds! I’m so glad I popped over from Diana’s lovely blog…
Thanks so much for stopping by, I’m glad you popped over here too! I appreciate your very kind and gracious words. The Creep, oh yes, they are out there, haha 😀
It’s a pleasure and I’m glad you popped by, too!
A poem to make you think, almost like a story.
Thanks so much, Robbie. I tend to write many of what I refer to as “story poems.” Thanks for reading and commenting!
Excellent. I’ve met the creep often, anywhere a woman does something and a man says, ‘well, actually…’ and tries to tell her how she’s doing it all wrong.
Yes indeed, the Creep is everywhere! He isn’t shy for sure 😀
I really love this , it’s delightful!
Thanks so much, Holly! 😀
You’re so welcome.
I came to your blog through Diana’s and love this poem! So funny and imaginative. My favorite: “I was hoping they would move him to crows but I knew he wasn’t smart enough for black birds.” I saw a PBS documentary on crows and they are smarter than monkeys!
Thank you so much for the very gracious compliment, Molly, and thank you for visiting my blog. Crows are amazing!
I like owls much better than pink flamingos. You see too many of them in people’s yards. Owls have class and don’t show up just anywhere. 😀 — Suzanne
That’s right, Patricia. Flamingos are so overdone, haha 😀
😀 — Suzanne