by Bruce Bennett

“This Mama Bear Struggling to Cross Road With Her Cubs Is Every Parent”
—NBC

It’s not a mountain, just a road.
No matter. Mama Bear
must get her four cubs safe across.
Although police are there

And traffic’s at a stand-still, she
has not the time to dally.
Percy is on the other side,
and Reg, but where is Sally?

That silly girl has climbed a pole!
And Gert’s nowhere in sight.
At this rate, going back and forth
will take until tonight,

And then she’ll still have miles to go.
The woods are dark and deep,
but dammit! It’s been days and days
since she’s had any sleep!