A Teddybear Cholla Stabbed Me Once Poem by Juan Olivarez

A teddy bear cholla stabbed me once,
For getting too close, for being a dunce.
my arm bled freely, on the desert sands,
In the middle of nowhere, in the arid lands.

yet there was no malice, in the teddybear,
he just stood silently, with nary a care.
Ten thousand daggers pointing all around,
As he watched me retreat, off his piece of ground.

Proud and defiant, he seemed to say,
you must be careful, if you pass my way.
he stood all alone, in the fading sun,
Feeling superior, his battle won.

As I walked away, I tipped my cap,
Staying far away from the obvious trap.
I left him alone without any qualms,
As I made my way, back to Twenty nine Palms.

6/19/12 Alton Texas