Owls Are Wise?

Responding to a Writing Prompt

Take a suggested writing exercise from a blog, magazine, book or workshop and DO IT.

Today, I’m using the Free Range Writing feature in the August Issue of Writing Magazine, devised and written by author and creative writing teacher, Jenny Alexander. (Yes, I’ve given you links, contrary to normal practice. This is because I’m citing another writer’s work).

I Chose to Write about my Owl Collection.

Don’t get too excited – they are not real live owls; they’re not dead ones either.

Owls are the subject of fiction, many in children's stories by authors like Beatrix Potter and Jill Tomlinson. They are timid and brave, wise and silly, little and large, moral and entertaining - whatever the human scribe desires and the child can imagine in response. 

My first member of the Owl Collection that was, at one time, living in three glass cabinets, was the Wade Whimsies® Owl Miniature. The following owlsplosion was not planned. Family and friends caught the bug too. Ceramic, clay, glass, wood, plastic, silver, jade, crystal, and exquisite jewelled pieces, all joined the throng of realistic and novelty creatures. Children made me their own versions or came running off the school trip coach with the very owl Mummy needed now, bought in the gift shop. Greater love hath no son - and I have two! Even the cub scouts got in on the act and I received little statue cub owls and an owl toggle. Tears prick my eyes as I write.



For many years, I developed a deliberate collecting strategy - no taxidermy, but papercrafted, embroidered, knitted and crocheted owls have all been encouraged. Whilst I still balk at the idea of owning a real live owl, we did adopt one, remotely, at a Cornish owl sanctuary where I experienced the thrill of a feather-light bird landing on the outstretched glove that encased MY hand.

It was maybe churlish to be so disinterested in the live owl that a local policeman told me he'd seen soaring over my house roof every night. I stayed in bed even though it was tempting to spy for outstretched wings overhead. Sleep and children were more important at the time.

I kept every owl that arrived for many years. And then we downsized. I had to make choices and it was hard. I was consoled by the charity shop's acceptance of my treasures that surely now form the backbone of another collection - or hundred!

It is a 'known fact' that owls are wise. This is not borne out by real life according to the sanctuary. They told us that barn owls have a predilection for dipping low over roads as they soar from hedgerow to hedgerow. Why would you do that after a family member (such as, perhaps, Wise Old Willie III) had been found squashed to feather and bone on the tarmac. And again and again it happens.

Not Just Collections

Even adults are in on the act. My husband has REALLY met Chaddy the Owl, the mascot for his beloved home football team. I’ll let you find out where Chaddy resides and cheers. As you know, I don’t provide many links outside this blog – we all know how to highlight, copy and paste in the search bar of a reliable engine. Try it now.

Then respond to this writing prompt in you own way. Please let me know how you get on.