‘Ōpe‘ape‘a

or Hawaiian hoary bat

roosts by itself

in ‘ōhi‘a, puhala, kukui, kiawe.

Since 1900

rare sightings dot island maps,

not much is known.

Plecotus auritus

or brown long-eared bat

forms colonies in trees and lofts

gleans insects from leaves and bark.

Not yet counting

those many slow flyers.

from Wall of Miracles, group poetry installation, U. of Exeter, Exeter, UK. Curated by Jaime Robles, Mike Rose-Steel, Suzanne Steele. April-May 2013.