Classic Poem

Elf owl, elf owl, what do you see,
All day winking and blinking?

I see the smut-nosed badger run
And the rattlesnake coiled asleep in the sun
And the gray coyote slinking.

Elf owl, elf owl, what do you hear?

I hear the nighthawk chirring,
The horned toads scuttering past in fear,
And the rabbit squeal where the red fox is stirring.

Elf owl, elf owl, what do you do
When all of us are sleeping?

I go down to the water hole to wait
Where the frisk-tailed things come creeping,
And the little gray mice by the grass stalks climb
To the moon of the mesa, and bide my time
To mark the blind mole's furrow.
And I strike my kill,
And eat my fill,
And get me back to my burrow.