Afterlife: Ursus arctos

She bares her teeth in recognition.                                            

Her skull halves meet in a suture that flows
like a meandering river, and

she without her skin and you
without yours are red cousins.                                  

If she snaps her jaws, you’re
standing too close;

she’s nearsighted
and may knock you down 
for a closer look.

If she claws you open she’s searching
for the forests you swallowed.

Relax.  If you die, then

she’ll cover you with leaves
and protect you.

 - Susanna J. Mishler from Termination Dust  (Red Hen Press/Boreal Books © 2014)
Check out the broadside of "Ursus Arctos" by Broadsided Press!

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