John Owen Lowe shared Emily Dickinson’s poem “Hope Is the Thing With Feathers” on his Instagram Stories over the weekend, days after his 13-year-old cousin Fiona died by suicide.
The “Unstable” co-creator, 30, posted the full text of the 19th-century verse to his social media account as his family continues to grieve the loss of the teenager, who passed away at the hospital last Tuesday. John Owen is the youngest son of actor Rob Lowe, 60, and his wife Sheryl Berkoff.
“HOPE is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all,” the poem reads in part. “And sweetest in the gale is heard; and sore must be the storm that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm.”
The post concluded with Dickinson’s final stanza: “I’ve heard it in the chillest land, and on the strangest sea; yet, never, in extremity, it asked a crumb of me.”
Fiona was the middle daughter of actor Chad Lowe, 56, and his wife Kim Painter. The couple also shares Mabel, 17, and Nixie, 10. Chad is Rob Lowe’s younger brother, making Fiona the “Parks and Recreation” star’s niece.
The family issued a statement shortly after Fiona’s death, describing their devastation. “We are deeply heartbroken by the loss of our beloved Fiona. She was a loving young girl who was smart, creative and loved to dance,” they wrote. “She was adored by her sisters and she was deeply loved by her parents. In fact, she was the light of our lives. Her passing is devastating for our entire family and we ask for prayers and privacy at this time.”
The statement also included a plea for those struggling with mental health to seek help through the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Mabel Lowe, Fiona’s older sister, posted her own tribute on Instagram following the loss. “I love you so much fiona ❤️ i wish your short time here was easier and i hope your mind is at ease now,” she wrote. “I will honor you forever and keep your memory alive. I love you, i hope you knew just how much.”
The Dickinson poem has long been read as a meditation on resilience, with its image of a small bird continuing to sing through storms. John Owen’s choice to share it publicly came as his family has maintained a relatively quiet profile since the tragedy, with social media posts serving as their primary public statements.
The Lowe family has faced hardship before. Rob Lowe has spoken in the past about his own struggles, including his recovery from addiction that began in his twenties. John Owen has also been open about his mental health journey, discussing his experiences with anxiety and depression in interviews tied to his Netflix series “Unstable,” which he created with his father.
That show, which premiered its second season in 2024, loosely fictionalizes their father-son dynamic, with Rob playing a tech mogul and John Owen portraying his socially anxious son. The younger Lowe has credited his creative work with helping him process personal challenges.
The family’s statement emphasized Fiona’s qualities beyond her difficulties, noting her creativity and love of dance. They described her as “the light of our lives,” a phrase that echoed across multiple family members’ public remembrances.
Mabel’s Instagram post, with its lowercase styling and heart emoji, offered a rawer counterpoint to the formal family statement, speaking directly to her sister in the second person. The contrast between the two forms of grief expression — the polished statement and the intimate social media post — reflected how different family members have processed the loss in public.
The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline remains available at 988 for those in need of support.