I smell wood fires, burning crackle.
I see hawks, thunder, thunder.
Dancing feet, dust goes flying.
Down the valley, by the river,
Stone black bear, line of turquoise,
Running with a powerful sureness
Through his head, past listening ear,
To the heart, thumping, thumping.
On his back he carries tokens
To the clouds high up above
Spinning, spinning, Great Spirit spinning
Bringing power, protection, love,
To the cave beside the water
Flowing slow, flowing rapid
Hidden in the dark of evening,
Bear rolls over, sleeps again.
Bear awakes ev’ry morning
But at night he finds the stars,
Becomes a shadow, dark, foreboding,
Against the slowly scrolling sky,
His arms around us strong and wide.
You cannot hide, but
Don’t be scared, little child.
His claws are furled and hidden, smooth.
Wishing you no harm, my small one,
He will hold you once again
In his deep dark ancient arms.