Peggy Rabb memorial reading

Yesterday, on a balmy pastel-colored day, poets, novelists, teachers, friends gathered at Hyde Hall on the UNC campus for a memorial reading of Margaret Rabb's work and that of some of the readers. It was almost like having her back with us. Almost. I sat, listened, and drew.

Here's Peggy, three years before she died, reading one of my favorite of her poems.

Low Owl Illusion

Early but already broad daylight this morning

a barred owl glided across the path, so close I saw

wing edges split by a broken shaft, a feathery flaw,

and thin claws that trailed like exposed wiring.

Halfway up a poplar she lit by a nubbly opening,

slipped inside a gap healed around a lost limb's raw

socket, and sank instantly into the dark hollow,

all but her tail, like a bracket on the bark, a warning.

At the high end of hearing, voices thin as a wafer

bled from the tree. She squeezed back out, turned

on me her great fixed eyes and stared down: You.

She held still, but the longer I looked, the less I saw her.

I mean, it was only by blinking back the form I yearned

for that she stayed in view at all, whatever she was and who.

 

Comments

[Wendy Shortland]

Thank you for that. I love owls, though I have never seen a live one, except once in Bali - a big white one sitting on the back of the driver's seat in a fancy white sportscar (also a rarity in Bali).

[marly youmans]

Laura,

I'm glad you posted these! I enjoyed both, and am pleased you could be there to sketch these faces, some very familiar, some not.

[Sandra]

Such a moving post. And beautiful sketches. I've just began sketching again - I'd forgotten how free it feels :0)

[sue]

These portraits are great, Laura! And I like having her words along with the link--it's marvelous to hear poets read their own work, isn't it? You hear their intended inflections, etc. Lovely.

[Helen Percy Lystra]

Beautiful sketches and a wonderful poem. When we lived across from the woods I often saw them once I learned how to look.

[Sharon]

You are such a dear person, Laura, and a wonderful artist. Thanks for sharing this.