Beware, You Bear(S) , Of Brian's Wrath! ...[[ The Continuing Saga Of Brian Whitaker, Aka Bri Edwards, In The Hills Of Pickens South Carolina ]] Poem by Bri Edwards

I don't begrudge a black bear a layer hen (just one) once a year,
but without due diligence by me there'll be heavy losses I fear.
Today I found ample evidence of a large bear's fence intrusion.
A damaged fence and 4 (of 8) hens absent brought this conclusion:

Yet once again we continue battling with old 'Mother Nature' here.
No annoying plants, 'bugs', NOR bears will flee from us I do fear.

[PAUSE]

That fear, expressed above, I do fear is coming true as out a window...
I did view, as I sat composing this, a bear striking yet another blow...

...against our efforts to keep chickens alive so we can collect their eggs.
And for the 3rd time today I found myself the foe of one which has 4 legs,
AND a set of sharp claws and big teeth, seeking hens as food and hens' food.
[ I'm trying to be serious here, with no joking, lest I be considered too rude. ]

The FOUR hens awaited me; I could almost hear them hoping I'd have a clue...
as to HOW I could keep them alive for at least one more day. What would I do?
Using my best instincts, and 'tools' (mostly my hands) , I concentrated on their coop.
I (sort of) wished to be able to continue harvesting their eggs and also their poop!

[ The eggs, of course, are for our bellies. The poop's for my mate's veggie garden. ]
But, if tomorrow I find no hens are still there, to no bear will my heart then harden.
Dark now, I 'hear suspicious noises' from outside, and (briefly) I hear squawking.
I doubt I'll see hens waiting for me tomorrow, when I go up the driveway, walking.

: (

brian


August 11th,2022