-- Nature’s Offspring -–

John Herlihy

The great Alaskan bear was for too long chained,

A golden-taffy summer coat hid places maimed.

Today, suddenly set free from a dusty, filthy cage,

Clear eyes, tulip ears all focused as a proud sage.

He rose to full height, forepaws hanging in prayer,

His ready nose then sampled the rich pungent air.

His whole body seemed tense and alert, this is me,

Head swiveling about when he realized he was free.

The colossal beast, king of the tundra, statuesque,

Supreme lord of this winter wonderland, picturesque.

He surveyed the mountains with commanding dignity,

He cautiously sniffed the brisk air in tranquil serenity.

The wild senses of centuries had again come alive,

The ancient instincts bred in the animal did survive.

The sensitive eyes and nose were now hard at work,

At the slightest sight or sound his alert ears did perk.

The ancient smells of the earth and air now at play,

Nothing could keep all of nature’s richness at bay.

The mustiness of deep canyons, the cold bite of snow,

The near chatter of the jaybird of all that he did know.

The distant thunder of the surf, the salty smell of sea,

The far-off cries of seagulls announcing look at me.

He turned then to see flying a pair of raucous crows,

The scream of a fishing eagle, using skills he knows.

Bubbling music of a near creek over jagged stones,

All the glorious miracles of nature felt in his bones.

All sights, smells, sounds could mean only one thing,

The world at his feet, wild and free, Nature’s offspring.

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(c) John Herlihy 10 January 2019