on their back porch,

quietly enjoying

the end of day.

Two owls arrive,

one in an apricot vest,

the other in a natty check.

They settle—one on a limb,

the other on a water dish—

and gaze for a bit

at the old folk.

Then one says,

“I think they’re younger

than they look.”

The other responds,

“and wiser than you’d think.”

Leighton Ford