The forest’s sentinel

Glides silently across the hill

And perches in an old pine tree,

A friendly presence his!

No harm can come

From night bird on the prowl.

His cry is mellow,

Much softer than a peacock’s call.

Why then this fear of owls

Calling in the night?

If men must speak,

Then owls must hoot-

They have the right.

On me it casts no spell:

Rather, it seems to cry,

“The night is good- all’s well, all’s well.”

-- RUSKIN BOND

In the above poem the author says ‘If men must speak, Then owls must hoot-They have the right.’ What does he mean by this?