Here's how the lines function:
> "The owl, for all his feathers, was a-cold,
> And when the wind was up and blew so hard
> That the old tree he sat in creaked and groaned,
> He wished he had a little more salt in him."
The owl, despite its protective feathers, feels the coldness of the world. The harsh wind, symbolized by the creaking and groaning tree, represents the challenges and difficulties of life. The owl's desire for "more salt" suggests a longing for resilience, strength, and the ability to withstand life's hardships.
The word "salt" is a reference to the ancient belief that salt had preservative properties. It was used to cure meat and prevent decay. In the poem, the owl is seeking a metaphorical preservation, a way to withstand the harsh realities of existence and the inevitability of death.
The poem's melancholic tone and the owl's longing for "salt" highlight the human experience of facing life's challenges and accepting the cycle of life and death.