THE SAD SAGA OF BOB THE BEAR

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Adventures in Northern New Mexico

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      by guest writer, Liz Sieren

     

       

Spring and summer were both hot and dry,

Food for animals was in short supply,

Storm clouds gathered, but no moisture came,

La Nina, claimed the natives, was to blame.

A late frost had put an end to crops of fruit,

No acorns, berries – the situation was acute.

To the bears in the canyon of Sapello,

Nature had dealt a devastating blow.

Searching for food, an ongoing chore,

Led to new areas for bears to explore,

Humming bird feeders, thistle and millet,

Not much, but kept back hunger a little bit.

Lingering hunger led Bob, a big black bear,

To a house where a sweet smell filled the air,

Hanging from porches were jars lined with red,

Surrounded by tiny birds looking well fed.

Using his big paw as a battering ram,

He knocked down the jars with one mighty slam,

Splashed on his fur was a pleasing taste so sweet,

Which he hastily licked off, then made his retreat.

His near empty stomach made him staunchly brave,

To search and find the food he so eagerly craved,

An open window, the screen no problem for Bob,

Squeezed through, then searched, an ever so easy job.

In the sink, over the stove, then up on the top,

The freezer door opened, what luck, a food filled shop,

Ate all he could ‘til Susan sounded an alarm,

Better leave now and escape without harm.

Free to wander ‘til stealthfully he came,

Back to the window for more food to claim,

But, no luck for Bob, things were locked up tight,

Circling and sniffing brought no end to his plight.

Unfortunately for Bob, the Game Warden was called,

By Susan, frightened, not wanting to be mauled,

A white trap on wheels was put into place,

Where it seemed Bob was making his home base.

Using smelly molded produce from Lowe’s,

Hopes were high that this cage would soon enclose

The clever black bear whose hunger was so great,

And which consequently would seal his fate.

Sure enough, the next evening he arrived,

Lured by the scent, his hopes for food revived,

Rushing inside and reaching the tempting food,

Brought the gate crashing down with the bear now subdued.

The food was tasty and filled that empty spot,

But, getting out of this place left Bob quite distraught.

Not much room to maneuver in this limited shell,

Well satisfied by food, and drowsy as well.

Bob relaxed and soon was soundly asleep,

Susan slept through it all and heard not a peep,

What a surprise she found when outside she went,

And discovered poor Bob, now all spent.

A call brought the Game Warden with his truck,

And away went the bear – all out of luck,

What happened to him next, we really don’t know,

Thus ends the tale of Bob and his journey of woe. 

                        Elizabeth Sieren

Liz Sieren is a retired teacher, writer and poet, and wife of CHS 1951 graduate, John Sieren.