bear in

I am known
as bear

I roam the woods
and the forests
of your mind

seeking bright-eyed
berries
shucking husks
from ripened kernels
catching salmon-ated dreams
as they leap
to try evasion
of my grasp

even when I’m sleeping
call it winter
if you will
I keep an eye
half-open
to stay in touch
with what you do

excuse me
if I snore
if I disturb
your subtler thoughts
but
I am known
as bear
I roam your forests

and if I occasionally
interfere
well
I have never
intended harm

I scrape my claws
I scratch my back
against the trees
and shrubs
left along your path

can you hear me

sometimes
can you feel me

I am rumbling
stumbling
rolling
roaring
across the grass bent
by your footsteps

I am your bear

I roam your head

sniffing what you’re thinking
where you’re going
what you’ve done

your woods and forests
your big ideas
everything you know
what you’ve left
behind

I stand alongside you
on your pinnacles
to survey the realm
we know

you in your way
I in bear-way

we watch over
the forest and the woods
that are our home

---

© Frank Prem, 2017

Poem #23: size and stature