Bear Limerick

In June of this year, Analia and I returned to Sequoia National Park. It was beautiful, as usual, and a welcome start to a summer of hiking and enjoying the beauty of California.As usual, the high sierra camp was full of folks, like us, that enjoy the outdoors. There are always those who form groups to explore together. One such group was three ladies who either did not have husbands or whose husband had chosen another destination for the day.The group of ladies were headed for Hamilton Lake and were just about to the falls when they happend upon a bear. They imediately turned and ran. As they got out of sight of the bear, they stopped and listend. When they didn't hear anything, they started discussing whether it was safe to resume. Some wanted to go ahead but others were afraid that the bear was still there. So they desided on a plan to scare the bear away, if he was still there. They sang a few verses of "God Bless America" or some other patriotic song. It was never made ver clear to me. At any rate when they ventured back to the spot where they had seen the bear, he was gone.That evening as they were laughing about the incident, they challenged each other to write a story or a poem about their adventure. This limerick was my attempt at capturing the moment.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger
2 October 1988

Bear Limerick

There once was a little black bear
Who startled three ladies so fair.
They sang him a song
And before very long
The bear got himself out of there.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger
21 June 1988