Bear Kill on Deer Hunt
by James Ross Kelly
Talk softly to the Bear
in his dying, apologize
profusely – commend him
his courage as he stood
before you – stood! mind you,
stood upright as you
before his death,
your own self,
you who pulled the trigger
and sent the bullet
meant for venison
that ripped out his throat,
five yards from your own.
Talk softly to the Bear
in his dying, apologize
remorsefully, commend him
his life as connected
to your own
and from your perspective
in a lasting way,
for he would have killed you
or left many scars.
Talk softly to the Bear
in his dying, apologize
with wry humor
make a fine rug of his brown hide,
commend him his courage of life & spirit,
every time you walk by
but disparage his intellect,
tell him he should have kept
running from your partner
who stumbled through
the manzanita brush patch
that was his hiding place
with an unloaded gun.
Talk softly to the Bear
in his dying, apologize
sincerely, commend him
his spirit–send it back
to where it came,
as he lays next to
the knic-ki-knick leaves,
know the sound he makes…
“UHHNNNUUUUUUU!”
Remember this all your life.
—
James Ross Kelly lives in Northern California next to the Sacramento River. ‘Black Ice & Fire,’ Mr. Kelly’s first book of poetry was published in February of 2021 by Uncollected Press/RawArt Review.
—
Our Readers said
• It moved me on immediate reading; it was poignant and honest.
• I thought this very moving; I enjoyed the juxaposition of the shooting and the gentleness of the poem.
• Loved the musicality and the emotional resonance
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