Daybreak: the household ...
... my father's gun.
Let him dream ...
... by sleep.
I knew my ...
... useless time away.
I stood, holding ...
... beak and claw.
My first shot ...
... the fallen gun,
a lonely ...
... not this obscene
bundle of stuff ...
... blindly closer.
I saw ...
... its own blood.
My father reached ...
... you have begun.'
I fired. The ...
... mine, and slept.
I leaned my ...
... I had begun
Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.
Texts in the City: Collected Poems of Gwen Hardwood Harwood — Watch a talk about Harwood's poetry.
More Poems About Childhood — Check out a short essay on and compilation of poems about childhood.
"Barn Owl" Aloud — Listen to a reading of "Barn Owl" by the poet Bonny Cassidy.
Gwen Harwood's Biography — Read all about the poet's life and work.
Owls of Australia — Learn more about Australia's native owls, including the barn owl.