Fear: A Fierce Fighter

Her heart pounded like a drum in her chest

everything she was taught, hesitated

The will to live now surely, put to the test

the angst she felt inside, underrated

*

She smelled the mud, as the sweat stung her eyes

the growling cut through every fiber

Would this moment be when she met her demise

or would fate send a savior to find her?

*

Her mind quickly sorts through lessons in her head

the rule book, the bible, of hikers

The ones meant to prepare, and protect you from death

longing for veins now filled up with ichor

*

She tried to self soothe,

to calm her breath and heartrate

Told herself a half-truth

the bears motive, hibernate

*

But the truth stood 6'4,

he was just outside of her sight

With bared teeth and brawn

and an immense appetite

*

This bear held no regard

for the badges she'd earned

Hungar bit, deep and hard

like a lover's heart, spurned

*

She managed to hide

tucked in, kept out of sight

Her whole body liquified

as she watched him go by

*

Nose in the air, his prey still at bay

even if someone could hear

She would have nothing to say

her voice stolen, by that massive bear

*

Moments had passed

to her, felt like a lifetime

To her hope, she held fast

her courage, redefined

*

She gathered some sticks

to build her a fire

The flames might do the trick

so, she constructed a pyre

*

She hoped that the irony

wouldn't be lost on the hunter

She found it quite funny

given the distress she was under

*

Striking the stone

the sparks flew, just like lightning

She knew she wasn't alone

the twigs snapping, was frightening

*

His shadow grew taller than the height of the flames

his breath felt like hot ashes

She could barely contain

screaming out, through the branches

*

As she clamored to her feet

the bear entered her campsite

She felt the ungodly heat

her face, a pale ashen white

*

The bear let out a roar

in the air, was a wildness

She'd not felt before

from her mouth, nothingness

*

She sprang into action

her fear, taken over

Like a freak chain reaction

more a fighter than lover

*

That bear took a shot

from her fragile right hook

Caught him in his blind spot

left him feeling quite shook

*

He wobbled his head, to gather his senses

spit flew like embers, brought them back face to face

He looked square in her eyes; he thought her defenseless

that jab to the nose, delivered, coup de grace

*

He roared one more time

leaning in toward the fire

Then like he'd committed a crime

disappeared in the brier

*

She collapsed to the ground

the fire's flames, danced around her

In the air, was no sound

as the wind slowly stirred

*

A gasp left her lungs

as she struggled for another

Silent, stayed her tongue

till she could pull it together

*

Then she gently began to stoking the fire

to remind her contender

After what had transpired

she wanted him to remember

*

She was held to the fire

and aptly, put to the test

This would be his reminder

life was spared at her behest