Rock Castle Gorge, West Trail

soon as I see bear sign — words

on dirty white metal — I fear

meeting a black bear, me hiking

bravely forward, no, weeping at first

for half a mile I’m quaking inside

bear on the trail, paws tearing bark

from trees, snatching up pine cones

no, I’d scarcely be its chosen meal

a bear would be scared as I am

but a bear would be larger, stronger

& if the bear were it, my death

I would meet it, completely alive