Spring brought her down
From the mountains
via the the creekette
fingers stretching out from Clear Creek
mud marking the pad prints on the bank
lead you to me
Escorted by the sheriff
following behind
like a fugitive
she romped through the 1950’s burb
to me
Flicking seeds from bird feeders
Galloping across lawns
Caught on camera
Past our neighbor reading the paper
Past our ‘59 ranch
To me
Not in a rush
Not hungry for flesh
Just following the water
She knows the drought before we do
Pushing on
through the neighborhood
past a mall where shops aren’t open on Sunday
so they can pray
Past a youth soccer game
They called in back up
Did they tase her?
Did they frisk her?
Did they let her go?
To the green belt
to lead her back
to the mountains
and her mother
What happened to that bear?
Where is she now?
She is still the talk of the town
from the spring of ‘26