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Renée Owen

Book of Hours

The morning sky, blue as a big tent. Air tinged with the last heat of the season, with the golden-crowned sparrow’s notes of longing. In the afternoon, the old white cat sleeps in slant rays of sun. Globes of persimmon dangle on slim branches—ghosts foreshadowing night. Neighbors tucking into beds, pillows cool to cheeks. A devil’s wind bangs on shutters. In the dark hills above town, downed tree limbs crash onto power lines. Flames ignite one, two, three trees, then the whole ridgeline goes up. And everything vanishes into ash.

the thin cry
of a cooper's hawk
dawn's smoky light

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About the Author

Renée Owen’s award-winning books include This One Life (Backbone Press), Alone On A Wild Coast (Snapshot Press), and Scent of the Past. . . Imperfect (Two Autumns Press).