Tenderfoot Poem by Ima Ryma

In the wild, all the black bears know
That fire in any form is bad.
Sometimes we are caught in fire though,
Stories of which can be so sad.
I was such a bear who was burned
So badly, rescuers could not
Save me, no matter how concerned,
And so quick, painless death I got.
I understood and did not blame.
With much compassion they spoke of
Me, and Tenderfoot was my name.
I spent life's last moments in love.

In songs and poems about me
The spirit of this black bear be.