ASHLEY PARKER OWENS

★ ★ ★ ★

POETRY

Image by Larisa Lauber

Goshen

September 25, 1990

After I gave up the day,
put preschoolers to bed,
& covered up the parrot cage,
a scarlet glow shone
beyond the window—
brighter than anything—
foreshadowing my future.

In the distance,
an object hovered.
& flushed cherry-red.
My inhalation stopped
when it dipped
& hid behind a building.

Too nimble for a helicopter,
it escaped into the inky
emptiness, slipping away
like a balmy nightmare.

I did not call emergency,
heartsick & lost,
obsessed with my husband & the laundry,
& the responsibilities we had not met.

Henderson

July 13, 2005

A young couple,
well-educated & fertile,
driving north on Highway 41,
witness an undulating spacecraft,
lifting above rooftops,
dull glow drifting like a swarm of insects
oddly visible in the midday sun.

When they return home,
the greyhounds pulse with joy,
jumping in ecstasy,
slobbering a milky froth,
their licks mingling with skin & fabric.

Dogs put outside with the husband,
he ignites the grill while the wife
brings out the dishes & food.
The hounds stay underfoot,
seeking scraps.

But despite barbecue on a fall day,
a mix of sweet smoke & spice,
cooking meat & fall leaves,
no talk arises about
the uncertain phenomena,
a hypnotic abyss with
a distinct start & no finish,
an uncertain ennui.

Newport

October 7, 1974

It was summer & I was sixteen,
a non-believer in the supernatural.

During the weekend,
hungry for tacos,
I walked up York
heading towards Seventh,
but I didn’t get there.

late evening
no cars
town at rest

I stepped on a newly paved lot
—stinking of blacktop & still tacky—
between a church & mini mart,
both dark & empty.

In the churchyard,
a shepherd mix growled & whined.
I figured he didn’t like me,
but his focus was on
the tree-tops.

I went to the fence
to win him over
let the dog jump up
—bony & curious—
to lick my fingers.

I glanced over my shoulder
stepped on a Styrofoam cup,
couldn’t breathe,
heart throbbing.

Above the elms two objects hovered,
the size of cars & beaming white-hot,
mostly calm,
at times moving
across the tree line.

I had a feeling they were watching me.

I glanced back to the dog
& he stared at me
& whimpered
& gazed at the entities.

We watched the space crafts
skim the tree tops,
then they paused,
& I raced home alone,
dog howling behind me.