I heard a growl from the woods,
saw a gleam of flashing teeth.
Was a mother protecting her cubs?
I yanked my knife from its sheath.
The intruder could not be seen
through wiry tangle of brush.
I knew better than to run
exposing my position thus.
Like a stone statue I stood
deep in the darkened wood.
More than a mile from aid
with only my tiny blade.
My heart pounded in my chest
as leaves rustled round my feet.
A tiny bear was sniffing me,
his mother I cared not meet.
Life went into slow motion
I figured my time had come.
But I had so much to learn,
how could I die this dumb.
A huge growl sent baby bear
running for his little life.
While I stood faced with mother
holding only one small knife.
She stared me in the eye
with a funny puzzled look.
Resembling stone I stood
feeling like a schnook.
She sniffed and sniffed then
slowly moved away.
Scattering leaves before her
leaving me in disarray.
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