Jilly at dverse poets pub is the hostess this evening and has asked for a poem with repetition. This one is in the form of villanelle . I saw a Disney-produced — yes, I hate Disney, but — movie a couple of years ago, called, “Bears”, which is a documentary of a mother bear and her cubs. It struck me just how difficult it is for a critter out in the wild to stay alive. This poem is in honor of that mama bear and all the other mama critters in the wild trying to make it.
Meeting the bear who lives out back.
Her way meanders; survives in the sticks.
To live where one wanders takes knack.
For now she curls in the hunter’s shack.
There’s need to read, “Intro to Bears” tricks.
Meeting the bear who lives out back.
Last year, five miles from here, on Dunewood Mac
She lived, with her cubs, underneath clay bricks.
To live where one wanders takes knack.
With a sorta plan, we left carrots stacked.
“Stay away, she’ll attack!”, said the skeptics.
Meeting the bear who lives out back.
Solitary traveler, has no pack;
Her nose sniffs the air, to food does affix.
To live where one wanders takes knack.
Telephoto aimed at sight of fresh track,
Before she moves on, as season predicts.
Meeting the bear who lives out back.
To live where one wanders takes knack.
Tao Talk 
“To live where one wanders take knack” – it does indeed! What an interesting poem and tale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked it. The movie really brought it home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am not aware of the movie, but this reminded me of a documentary I saw once of a man who lives with bears.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think later those bears killed him if it’s the same one I’m thinking of…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh noooooo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
oops maybe shouldn’t have told you. sorry!
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol…it’s not surprising.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Firstly, your title made me laugh – punerific! You took the form, which is a bear, and met it quite well! I love that you told a story with it, complete with dialog. Great job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
didn’t even notice that pun. thank you for reading it and for the feedback 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was a nice way to meet the bear with those carrots. I hope she enjoyed them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
honestly, I’m terrified of bears and think there’s one living out behind my house, but the rest of the poem is fiction
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Bear movie that sticks with me is the Grizzly Man documentary- what was he thinking? I haven’t seen this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here’s the trailer. Please don’t mind the sappy music with it. It is a documentary but they keep their distance from the bears, unlike Grizzly Man (which I haven’t seen but heard about):
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks- I will look for it. I am sure the library system would have it- if not my library. Will check tomorrow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You nailed the form, Jade ( I chose the villanelle too ) and rocked the prompt. GRIZZLY MAN is a true story documentary, with a tragic ending.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Glenn. Your kind words are appreciated. I’d heard about that movie but couldn’t bear to watch it if he was attacked. Watching Revenant a few years ago was so traumatic to see and think that’s what happened to the poor guy.
LikeLike
That is really good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Max. There’s more than one way to get over bearphobia 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep! That is what I was thinking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“With a sorta plan, we left carrots stacked.”
Spent time as a wilderness guide. That line left me frozen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I followed that link but it didn’t take me anywhere…
LikeLike
It’s a clip from the 1988 movie, The Bear. Face to face with the Grizzley. Putting food out for a bear is the best way to end up facing a bear. Smart creatures, but not at all above making a snack out of someone being a source of food.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Believe me, I want to stay as far away from bears as possible. The poem was fictitious beyond I think one lives out in the woods — or at least passed through — behind my house. Did you ever have any encounters with bears? I saw “The Revenant” and was really traumatized by what the bear did to poor Leonardo.
LikeLike
That was just wishful thinking on the director’s part. 🙂 I was lucky. Told the people I was guiding keep as much food in your tent as you want… I’ll be about a thousand yards down the path. And I’ll contact your next of kin. Did see lots of other wildlife, ‘though. Northern Minnesota, southern Manitoba.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just went out to youtube and think I found the clip you wanted me to see. On the side of the mountain and the guy curls into fetal position? Guess what I’ll be dreaming about tonight! Dang.
LikeLike
Sweet dreams!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No bears here, Jade, but I find them fascinating. I can’t imagine looking out of my house and seeing a grizzly. I’ve read about them rummaging in the trash.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They also like to raid bird feeders. I’ve got 2 out there with sunflower oilers and one suet cage. They are fascinating — from a distance 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
The farmers killed all our bears. The mountains, ALL the mountains belong to sheep farmers now, didn’t you know? I admire you taking on a villanelle. It turned out well 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s so depressing. Who will put a stop to this madness? Between the cattle and the sheep, there is no room for anyone else but humans 😦 Thank you for your kind words on the poem. You make it look easy, but not so much 🙂
LikeLike
It’s never easy writing something good 🙂 It’s a discourse I really hate, when it’s assumed that we take a decision on whether to massacre an animal species on the grounds of there not being ‘room’ for us and them. Who says? Who gave us the right to take all the land, destroy it and kick off every other living creature from it? Then you look at what we ‘need’ the land for—amusement parks, luxury homes, commercial centres, shops, airports etc etc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well crafted and an unusual subject, but altogether, a skillful example of the form.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, James!
LikeLike
Delightful poem
LikeLiked by 1 person
glad you liked it
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like your poem but I am torn between liking to have a bear around and being very afraid of it. I am glad that your bear seems to be a rather harmless one. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
glad you liked the poem. i’m hoping the bear has moved on by now…
LikeLike
I would love to have a proximity to bears… they are amazing creatures, but a telephoto lens is handy to have
LikeLiked by 1 person
I dnvounter s bear standing just ahead of us on Lost Lake Trail in the Oregon Cascades. As terrified as I have ever been. This was good Jade…
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you, rob. i hope that day never comes for me! what did you do when you saw the bear? i’ve seen helmet cam video of a bike rider where the bear comes at him. the stuff of nightmares! also, i accidentally deleted your comment on the incense poem by hitting some key combo. thank you for the feedback on it as well 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you. Just going back into these posts. At this point, your comments were showing up, but after January 1, they started going to spam. Not sure what changed….
LikeLike