Bear Country

[Ryme]

I was reminded last night of a trek I took out to Glacier National Park, one of the loveliest places I've ever seen. While I was there I wrote this fun piece, about my friends and I getting eaten by a bear. I laugh every time I remember it.


Bear Country (8-16-01)

By the ember's dying light,
three campers had a beastly fright.
From the darkened murk out there
came cries of "awk!" and "hss!" and "bear!"
Drew went forth to look about;
the others heard just a muffled shout,
then silence--
Denise strode swiftly the other way,
hoping for escape that day.
She made it to the nearest stream,
but splashing turned to piercing scream,
then silence--
Ross stayed huddled in his tent,
praying that no harm was meant.
But he, too, faced the fangs and rippers,
the shriek of rending cloth and zippers,
and, eventually, silence ...