Man or Bear

Bear, we say.

They prove why.

Bear! Bear! Bear! we cry.

Already

they've skinned the carcass.

Nothing more determined than a man with a knife,

a bottle, a grievance.

Bear, we whisper.

The night is still, stopped.

Bear, we whisper,

teeth gone, teeth spread across the floor, teeth

swimming in the blood of bites.

Bear in our minds, prayers,

bear looking for peace in our souls.

Bear in our bleeding arms,

when we didn’t get to choose at all.

Mirkka Jokelainen