The Owl Who Would Not Hoot

By a hole in a tree in a faraway wood,

Orli the Owl nervously stood,

As she stared at the ground a long way down

Feeling so scared she made not a sound.

Her mother and father, and her sister too,

Said 'look for a place where you can hoot

Don't be afraid it's really easy to do.

Just stand very still and count up to two.'

But Orli turned back, not keen at all

Drew in her wings to make the shape of a ball.

Shaking her head with her eyes shut tight

Once she knew she was frightened of heights.

'But the woodland folk are gathered today,

To sing three cheers and shout out hurray.

They have brought gifts and all types of food

So, if you don't hoot that will look very rude,'

Said her mother as Orli started to shiver.

'Look now visitors have come from the river.

Field mice, badgers and Fred Fox from his lair.

But most important of all, there's Benny the Bear.'

'I heard the news about our first white owl

And left my home,' his deep voice growled.

As he rubbed his back, but complained quite bluntly

'So, hurry up and hoot I feel very hungry.'

But Orli hid her head under her wing,

When the creatures below began to sing.

'Hey, Orli we want to hear you hoot too.'

'And we've got meaty treats,' said an old cockatoo.

Orli turned back 'You look so far away.

It's safer to stay here stay here where I can play.

When I blink I get dizzy, my eyes start to cross.

And staying by my nest means I cannot get lost.'

Hours became days and Orli didn't appear,

And one by one the all the guests disappeared.

Even Benny the Bear who kept scratching his hair

Bellowed 'I've had enough. No point staying here.'

There was no sense of fun and no sound of laughter

When her sister left with her mother and father,

Once the news reached their home deep in the tree.

It was going to be lopped and every owl had to flee.

The chain saws and axes bit hard in the bark.

The cuts hurt the branches and left cruel marks.

The great tree trembled and clung to its roots,

When out of the blue came the loud sound of hoots.

'MY HOME, MY TREE,' Orli stood  up and hooted.

The tree fellers stopped cutting the moment she shouted.

'T'- WHIT,' she cried 'MY TREE MAY LOOK WORN

BUT IT'S BEEN HERE FOR AGES SO LEAVE IT ALONE.'

No longer scared she told all the Jackdaws,

And the Ravens and Crows, 'YOU MUST STOP THE SAWS.'

Her hooting was so loud it went far and wide,

And Orli's  call for support was repeated with pride.

The woodland folk watched as the men withdrew.

Her family came back as the tree healed and grew.

Now each evening you can hear Orli hoot.

She's famous for protecting the trees in the wood.

Curious birds swooped in from overseas,

To hear Orli hoot about saving the trees.

'She overcame her fears outside the nest,'

Said the woodland folk who  were very impressed.

The old trees linked branches and the woods were kept.

Many birds made new nests and very few left.

The families of birds sing their songs as they should,

And never forget Orli in the faraway wood.