Oh, little brown bear, what do you see?
While you sit at the top of that tiny hill,
do you see the fish in the pond and wish
them in your jaws?
Do you see the sun set in all
of your mother’s beauty?
How many times have you watched
humans pick at their sandwiches
while you drooled and grunted?
Oh, little brown bear, what do you see?
While you lay inside of your cave,
with near shut eyes.
Do pillbugs roll by, and squirrels scoop their nuts?
Do the wolves howl their songs at the moon so full?
Does the hunter come, armed for hurt?
How do the birds pick their twigs?
The ants, their food?
Does your cub see your pleased face,
As you lick its fur clean?
Oh, little brown bear, please,
what do you see?
