Mama Bear

A black shadow with paws

lumbers into the backyard.

Snout tasting the dampness of spring air,

feet muddy from thawing earth.

She sniffs the swing set, creeps about the sand pit,

licks up dandelion heads and digs under rocks.

Then, I see two more fluffy balls

roll and stumble out of the tree line.

They fumble for footing, cry out for mama,

then all three turn towards the window where I watch.

Mama pushes her cubs to a tree

and together the little monkeys race to the top.

The bark and limbs pay no mind to their claws

as they shimmy up slender birch.

Mama takes one more peek at the window

before disappearing into the brush once more.