Larry L. Dill's New Hope Journal Personal Essays and Public Opinions since 1979 _____________________________________________
				Winter, 2004
		The Bear and I, alone on the Middle Fork of the Gila River, Gila Wilderness, New Mexico, June, 2001. Though his ribs showed the scarcity of food in his high desert habitat, I estimated his weight at 600 lbs.  He looked briefly in my direction and passed by. Digital transcription from video footage by Larry L. Dill
	Bear, Pass By My 60th Year The seasons move in and out of our lives like bears at the edge of camp, Like notices from the insurance company-- Payment due, payment due. We met back up in Santa Fe A year ago today. I hoped you might be young again.  And you were... Still laughing...still unafraid. We've wintered the storms together here in the Blue Ridge, Watched the spring unfold at Rabbit Rock, Read our books in summer And tried to glimpse our little local bear. I'm cutting firewood now in the fall to pay my dues. I stack it up against the cabin As if it were an apology for everything I could have been-- An insurance payment for one more season of grace. Each log another prayer: "Bear, pass by." __________________________________________________________________________________
			Return to Poetry Index Return to New Hope Journal Home Page