...Enough To Let Them Go

The old man was a loner,
Living in his cabin home,
High upon a mountain,
Shunning people, quite alone.

But though he sought his solitude,
Away from city walls,
A life alone, bereft of Touch,
Response and Company, soon palls.

The old man, needing comfort,
One day was pleased to find,
A bear cub, young and frightened,
Alone and scared out of her mind.

As he approached the young cub,
Small claws were drawn in fear,
But by soft voice and gentle smiles,
Terror eased, she let him near.

He fed her and he cared for her,
Her gratitude she showed,
By sharing his existence
In his wild and lonely, bleak abode.

When parted for a short time,
On glimpsing a first sight,
Of the man, she’d loudly roar,
With honest, undisguised delight.

Many summers came and passed,
And winter snows lay on the hills,
Until one springtime came,
And yet the air contained a chill.

Mountain streams flowed once again,
While buds and blossoms graced the trees,
Birds sang gaily, rabbits played,
In the mountain’s grassy fields.

In earlier times such sights were welcomed,
Just another shade of Bliss,
But now her mood was discontented,
Notwithstanding all of this.

She did not know what ailed her,
What ancient whispers plagued her mind,
The old man’s tears, the only clue,
To show he knew that it was time.

One day, off in the distance,
Another bear they spied,
She looked to the old man to speak,
He’d always been her friend and guide.

The distant stranger looked at them,
Standing tall and proud,
Beckoning, through upright stance,
His invitation silent, and yet loud.

She felt a need to follow,
The distant stranger’s trail,
Yet, how to leave the old man?
Now suddenly so tired and frail.

She’d always seen him as her friend,
Never as a man,
Never noticed snow-white hair,
Or weathered face and wrinkled hands.

Now, in just a moment,
Perception changed its gaze,
Looking to tomorrow,
No backward glance to happier days.

The old man got up slowly,
Then standing by her side,
Spoke in measured tones,
A steady voice, but misty-eyed.

“Emmeline” he said at last,
“I think its a good time
For me to do some fishing,
I’m going back for rod and line.

Why don’t you go exploring,
In yonder timberland?
And if you are some time,
- I’ll understand.”