Composed

A bear’s world begins 
with her body:  self-contained, 
neither bold nor shy, she forages
without fear, rakes the thorny thickets
of blackberries, rips open 
yellow jacket nests, scoops larvae
from the papery hexagonal cells.  
In wet sand or earth, pressed deep,
the smooth cups of her tracks
hold light, collect rain water, shimmer
with her presence long after
she has wandered upriver 
searching for salmon.