Little Lost Owl

In the middle of the forest
On a stormy winters night
A little owl became lost
His heart was pounding with fright.

He flew off in the evening
When his mother had clearly said
You aren't ready to go out
As you should still be sleeping in your bed

His chest was so congested
That his 'more-pork' was a squeak
What he was unaware of
When so sick this last week
That his inbuilt radar system
Was not working one little bit
His cold had put it 'out of order'
He sadly was not yet aware of it.

On the forest floor he sat
Wet, cold, dismal and forlorn
"I wish I'd listened to my mother
Yes I'm her treasure, her first born.
But if my radar isn't working
And my sense of direction is all gone
I will die here as a lost owl
In this sick state my hope has gone".

Two big tears rolled
From Montague's big eyes
He was wet, cold, sick and hungry
As he looked up in that dark sky...

Well... Manu Moreporks mother
As ancient as can be
When doing her evening exercise
Routinely after tea
Thought she heard a faint sound
As she flew from one branch to another
Then she saw that pitiful sight
Oh dear! Why is he not home with his mother?

"You are cold and wet and hungry
And your radar isn't working
In the forest when so ill
Why are you still lurking"?

She wrapped him in a bundle
And took him to her tree
Placed him by the fire
And offered him some tea.

For three days he couldn't talk
He knew not where he was
She sat by him day and night
Her motive was simple because
This old bird loved deeply
She had seen the passage of time
One day she knew he'd speak to her
With his 'morepork' strong and fine.

...Montagues mother became anxious
When her babe failed to return
She called for the search party
But very soon did learn
That her beloved baby
Was no where to be found
So she in desperation
Flew to Manu More-porks sound.

She knocked with that strange door knob
And he graciously appeared
She poured out her aching heart
Yes, all that she now feared.

"With that dreadful cold
His inner radar would simply fail
I fear that he's passed away
Into More-pork heaven, he has sailed".

Manu listened closely
Then thought for a time
"Go to my ancient mother
I sense all will be just fine".

"She lives nearby the Giant Rimu"
She hurried on her way
What a joyful reunion
But what did Montague say?

We may never know
For words cannot express
The love and gratitude
Shared in that old birds nest.

Montague learned the hard way
To listen and then learn
Lest he fall prey to the unknown
And tragedy painfully earn.

...More-pork, More-pork
What a lovely sound
Just to know for certainty
A young babe had been safely found.

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