The Bear

My horse was walking by the creek, I rode without a care
Nearly dozing off I was when out stepped that old bear
Who might have meant no harm but he startled my old mare
Who jumped and threw his rider until then unaware

Well her rider, namely me, catapulted through the air
When I recovered all my senses I was on my derriere
And the place on which I landed was no easy chair
I arose and vowed to track that beast to its secret lair

I had my rifle with me, it was serious hardware
When I finished with that bruin there’d be nothing to repair
I’d teach him for the last time not to give a man a scare
If I kept on I’d find him, he’d have to stop somewhere

I’d creep up without sound and I’d catch him unaware
And with any luck at all he’d be solitaire
Drill him through the heart, he wouldn’t stand a prayer
But as I crept ahead and peeked I saw this scene of care

The bear upon her side, her little cub was there
Suckling at her breast, no need for dinnerware
I crept backward silently, no thought then of warfare
In this vast land we have, perhaps we’ll learn to share