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| Candlestick Press February 2026 My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this poetry pamphlet |
Owls are birds that fascinate us, seeming to exist at the shadowy margins of our human lives. More often heard than seen, their nocturnal cries can be both haunting and exhilarating.
These ten poems celebrate the elusiveness of owls, as well as the thrill of a rare sighting; when a little owl is spotted on the branch of an olive tree in Greece, it looks more like a “small clay jar” than a bird. In another poem, the near-silent flight of a barn owl offers a moment of spellbound intimacy:
“If breath was any animal, it’s this.
Glide and hush-sweep
across the close-by fields of grain.”
from ‘Barn Owl on Newburgh Road’ by Niall Campbell
The poems remind us that an encounter with any wild creature is a gift – and that meeting an owl in a poem can be every bit as magical as meeting one in the woods.
Selected and introduced by Niki Bowers
Poems by Nial Campbell, Daniel Webster Davis, Emily Dickinson, Victoria Gatehouse, Ian Humphreys, Gregory Leadbetter, Rob Miles, Angela Readman, AE Stallings and Edward Thomas.
Donation to The Owls Trust
📖 My Review..
Always just on the edge of shadow, owls move silently through the dusk of evening, mysterious creatures who have featured strongly in our culture for centuries. The collective name for a group of owls is a wisdom and these ancient creatures form a backdrop to myths and legends and are strongly associated with the otherworld. Seen as spiritual messengers, the owl’s eerie cry is often interpreted as a portent of ill luck or even a harbinger of death however, there is no doubt that each sighting in the wild should be regarded as a special moment.
“Then at the inn I had food, fire, and rest,
Knowing how hungry, cold and tired was I.
All,of the night quite barred out except
An owl’s cry, a most melancholy cry”
From The Owl by Edward Thomas
Years ago I spent a glorious time on the Greek island of Spetses and even though I wasn’t lucky enough to spot a little owl this lovely poem brought back happy memories of a beautiful island and the rough beauty of its olive trees :
‘We strolled along the sea road
And spied a little owl
Less a bird
Than a small clay jar
Balanced implausibly on an olive branch “
From Little Owl by AE Stallings
It’s been a real pleasure to read this beautiful mini-anthology which shines a much needed spotlight on this most ethereal of creatures. Each one of the ten sensitively selected poems allows us a glimpse into the life of this special bird, it would make the perfect gift instead of a card for anyone who has a special interest in nature or for those who simply love the natural word and more especially these enigmatic creatures who glide like shadows through the night.
About the Publisher
Candlestick Press is a small, independent press publishing sumptuously produced poetry pamphlets that serve as a wonderful alternative to a greetings card, with matching envelopes and bookmarks left blank for your message. Their subjects include Mountains, Clouds, Walking, Birds, Wine and Happiness. Candlestick Press pamphlets are stocked by chain and independent bookshops, galleries and garden centres nationwide and available to order online.
Twitter/X @poetrycandle
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