the owl's gaze

In this season

when the dog must pee
I grumble while
donning coat
and hat
and gloves.

I pull her to heel more abruptly than necessary.

"C'mon girl, pee" I say more sharply than necessary.

I shiver,

looking to the sky in exasperation,
my gaze making it only as far
as a branch just above my head
where a screech owl sits
and watches,

everything.

Loosening my grip on the leash
I say "good girl"

when she's done squatting,

and add a scratch behind

the ears for good measure.

More gentle now,

for the witness who is there.