Bear belly crawls out of her den
limbs heavy with winter lassitude
paws her way up through rootball, fieldstone, clay
two wide-eyed young nudge her flanks:
this bright new world is safe?
She noses the air
examines numerous scent trails
wild garlic, beetle larva, dead deer
food sources for her depleted body
Too many options
For a moment she sits and basks
black coat a magnet for a patch of sunlight
The muffled thrum of her own heartbeat—
sole companion under the snow—
quickens now with the sap pulsing through green wood
and the call of the cardinal from the top of the maple
She shakes her head, sending dust flying
swats away the young nuzzling for a teat
sways to all fours and sets off
pushing through briars
burrs catching in her winter fur
April wind cutting a ruff around her neck
She leaves a path of scuffed loam and flattened leaves in her wake.
Melissa Shaw-Smith 
Nice. I could smell her.
Thank you, Jim. Yes, I’m sure pretty rank after a long winter!
Ah, nice. The world awakens to spring!
Thanks, Melissa. Yes, spring is taking her sweet time this year. Snowflakes today and nary a sign of the peas and spinach I planted a few weeks ago. Oh for a fine big poly tunnel! Glad yours got a new coat! All the best, Melissa
Wonderful! I can see her and the two cubs tumbling and bumbling about as they discover the new world-
Thank you for your nice comment. Last year I had the pleasure of watching a mother bear and her four cubs!
Gorgeous evocation of how it feels to be a young, hungry bear mommy 🙂
Kind words, thank you, Munira. All the best, Melissa
WONDERFUL, AS USUAL! I EXPECT NOTHING LESS. WHAT A WONDERFUL, TALENTED FAMILY THE FIVE OF YOU ARE. WE ARE BLESSED.
LOVE, BERNICE & SEYMOUR
Bernice, thanks so much for saying so. Hugs, Melissa
That’s an amazing photo and a poem that brings the bear to life beautifully. The bear really comes to life.
Thanks, Adele. We’ve lots of bear in the woods around us, and though they tend to stay out of our way, you can’t help but be aware of their presence.