Bear In Mind Poem by Lone Dog

(a true story)


Have you ever spent a night in the north where the wolves and bears roam free,
Snug in your bag in a two-man tent with your food tied up in a tree?
I recall such a night in the wilderness of Quetico Provincial Park,
When Don and I, after dousing the fire, retired to the tent in the dark.
Concerned about bears, we couldn't sleep, and each sound played tricks with our minds;
A crack of a limb, a splash in the lake, a rustle amongst the pines.
We'd been warned about possible problems with bears and kept no food in the tent,
But our food that hung from the limb of a pine, we knew the bears might scent.
It played on our minds but it wasn't too long before Don began to snore.
Me? With one eye glued open and one ear propped up, I listened for sounds outdoors.
And then I heard it! Rrrr-r-r-r. Oh No! And my heart rate started to soar.
I listened intently, my adrenalin rushing. 'It's after our food! ' I swore.
Rrrr-r-r-r. I heard it again! Rrrr-r-r-r. My pal just continued to snore.
Now, fully alarmed, I shook him from sleep. 'Wake up, Don! ' I said.
'There's a bear that's after our food in the tree! ' and he quickly raised his head.
'Listen, ' I stuttered and soon enough, Rrrr-r-r-r. 'Hear It? ' I said.
He paused, then -
With a look of disgust, 'That noise, ' he stated, 'is my stomach. Go back to bed.'