Bear Mountain

The spirit of the grizzly bear
haunts the misty, evergreen
clad mountain. A site so rare
he is very seldom seen.

The Indian Princess explores
alone the chilly heights.
She watches as the eagle soars
and other wondrous sights.

Never fearing the grizzly bear,
the Princess gathers sweet flowers
holding the fragrant bouquet there
and using her uncanny powers

to see and hear what no other
can see or hear. Until she finds
there on the slope of Earth's mother
the peace that somehow binds

her to the spirit of the phantom bear
and her heart begins to feel the tug
she wonders if her soul should dare
to seek the warmth of the bear's hug.

Closing her eyes, her nostrils wide
breathing deeply and filled with peace
her passionate dreams she will not hide
seeking the grizzly bear won't cease

until the encounter, inevitable,
takes place and she nestles her cheek
against his soft, warm fur and is able
to sit beside the icy creek

with the phantom grizzly bear.
Past eagles and clouds they look.
As destiny finds the unlikely pair,
she sits reading a poetry book

and he, reclining under the pines,
with eyes closed and lips in a smile,
listens as she whispers the lines
and they hold each other for a while.