"I am even tired of salmon," says the bear.
The bear becomes a Catholic,
And sends the Pope out into the forest to fend for himself;
"Kneel on the soft moss," the bear advises the Pontiff.
"Open your heart to God.
Be still.
Hibernate."
Soon, His Holiness is snoring in a cave,
Insensible to ecclesiastical issues
Or earthly temptation.
The bears climbs in a window.
"Teddy bear!" says the girl whose room it is,
And what fool would be so churlish as to argue?
Here,
There is companionship,
Fritos,
And indoor plumbing.
The girl gives over most of her bed to the enormous, stinky Bruin.
"I love you," she tells him.
"Baw!" he bawls, and it means
"I love you, too."
All summer, they play.
No one dares to bully her.
She buys him a jar of honey and a rosary
With money she has saved.
The bear snuffles loudly, and it means
"Peace be with you."
"And also with you!" she shrieks, and does a cartwheel.
Bless the bears and the children--
Give me one good reason why not.
_______
lol...there is no reason I can give.
ReplyDeleteShay, I just read that aloud to 'someone'
ReplyDeleteI'm a good reader-aloud-er too!
Such wit and timing and....
you gOOOOOOD girl!
Happiest New Year wishes
with Warm Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
> < } } ( ° >
i got none either and found this quite enjoyable to read shay...maybe it was the thougth of the pope kneeling in moss and mud...yes i think he might find god there...
ReplyDeleteNo reason why not, not at all.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful poem!
Happy New Year, my dear Shay!
Those last two lines reminded me of one of my favorite movies from more than three decades ago..."Bless the Beasts and the Children."
ReplyDeleteGreat poem.
I love this..a bear finds his own peace while sending a pope to find his..great humor here :)
ReplyDeleteI love it when you go Where the Wild Things Are, and they return the favor.
ReplyDeleteshay- how do you re-post like this and go back to the top of the 'pile?"
ReplyDeleteYou will hear no reason from me. One of my all-time favourite authors, John Irving, said: "Everyone needs a good bear.."
ReplyDelete:-) I love it. x
ReplyDeleteCloudia, this isn't a repost. It's a new poem.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of any reason. :) I enjoyed this. :)
ReplyDeleteI can think of no reason either! good stuff
ReplyDeleteBears and children indeed. Sounds right to me.
ReplyDeleteBears love Fritos and indoor plumbing....:)
ReplyDeleteAdorable.
No reason why not at all! I'd get tired of the woods too! Give me indoor plumbing and Fritos any time!
ReplyDeleteNo reason .. oh maybe .. nah
ReplyDeleteIf the pope moved the church to the woods, I may reconsider catholicism. "Grrrr"... which means not really.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't even try to give you a "why not!" I love that bear sends the Pope into the real world:~)
ReplyDeleteA perfect read for the entry into 2012!
This made me think of my Puppy. Love this, Shay!
ReplyDeleteI love this poem and I love the bear.
ReplyDeletehah, love it ;)
ReplyDeleteand she loves him even though he's stinky! now that's really love!
ReplyDeleteif i don't stop reading your poetry i'm never gonna write again. {sigh} {turning a really putrid green with envy}
♥
Poetry at it's best. Reads like a song...
ReplyDelete