Night Owl Poem by Tom Squires

As they rolled through the desert
Arizona receded in the distance
The evening scent of desert breeze
They made their way east
Rolling past vistas
Like the rush of some western dream
There emerged Jack rabbits
Darting one by one
Across the arc of headlights
The car shuddered at each impact
No eastern bunnies were these
Which are barely felt
Yet no less mourned
After seeing a small owl
In the middle of the road
They rolled to a stop
And walked to see
As it quickly flew up
Into the bejeweled west Texas night
After that they hit no more
For him he thanked in silence
The stars above eternal referee