writing when I'm supposed to be working

I had intended

To submit every day

But there’s this “job” thing.

I...don’t wanna work!

Oh, wait, that’s a song lyric

So much for haiku

I have to do work.

But I want to write, right now.

The words are calling

I’m writing haikus

About wanting to write but

Needing to do stuff.

Which…I guess means I’m writing

I caught a nice string of salmon to take home for dinner.

But there’s a great huge bear blocking the trail.

My dog Max growls, deep. Hackles are up.

We change course, moving sideways and away.

I know better than to dance with a grizzly.

Damn-it!! The bear swings his head and catches our scent.

The stench might be and Max – we could both use a good bath.

But maybe just the fish. Gutted fish stink. Hard to miss.

The bear turns in our direction and lumbers towards us.

Oh, God. He’s not charging. Yet.

But he is definitely coming.

The rangers say to stand your ground if you are charged.

But shit!

This fella is big and old and probably mean.

And standing my ground doesn’t sound so good.

Cause I’m an idiot who forgot his bear spray.

And I think I’d lose that fight.

I have only one chance to distract him so we can try to run.

But I think it is a good one.

I’m gambling that he’s after the fish – fish won’t growl or fight back.

Or talk to the bear like it’s a dog “Hi boy, here you go, aren’t you a handsome fella?”

Which is supposed to confuse the bear and keep it from attacking. Maybe.

So instead I fling the whole string of salmon right at him.

Our dinner…his now if he takes it.

"Look bear, nice juicy salmon right there in front of you!!!"

He lowers his head to sniff - and that’s my cue to get out of there!

I don’t need to wait around to see if he eats it all.

But we do detour - fast - away from him in a big arc

Trying to avoid coming face to face again. Once was plenty for me.

I move cautious but steady.

Max slowly stops growling and settles down.

And as we move further away and deeper into the trees

I can still hear the bear snuffling and eating

Crunching through scales and bones.

Six big salmon will take him a little while.

In the end,

We made it out and no-one got hurt.

That’s a miracle right there!!

But Max and I are going to be having

Burgers from the diner tonight. With extra fries.

And I picked up a whole case of bear spray.

As the commercials used to say: “Never leave home without it.”

Author's note: I'm actually exploring three different narrative styles for the *same* story. I have a Haiku (Bear, fish, run) that is the simplest, then this poem in free verse and then a short story told with humor. I'm interested in which receives the most reader response and engagement...which version do you think is better? Let me know!

Big bear blocking trail

Can't go past. Distract with fish!

Run through woods to truck.

Author's note: I've written three variations of the same story. I'm interested in which attract more readers and why. So we've got a Haiku, a free verse poem, and a short story ("How not to get eaten by a bear"). Let me know which format you prefer and why (I definitely have a preference!) Thanks!

Note: this is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to people or events is purely the fault of those individuals.

I went fishing yesterday at my favorite spot — it is secluded and peaceful but it is one of the areas the salmon pass through when they head upriver for spawning. Right time of day, right time of year…I just used a spinner lure and managed to catch a beautiful string of salmon to take home for dinner. Almost too many, really, cause I’ll have to haul them back up the trail with me and they get heavy! But you know how fishing is — when they are biting, it is hard to stop! But they stopped striking around 10–10:30, so I gutted the six I caught, cooked the smallest one on a little camp grill I have, and then Max and I enjoyed a nice fish breakfast. Mmmmmm. Love that smell!

After we had cleaned up the site, I ran the rest of the fish through an old piece of twine I keep for those purposes, packed up my gear and my lures, and started the mile hike back to the truck. My brown dog Max was loping ahead, sniffing god knows what and doing things only dogs understand. I enjoy that walk back, even when I’m hauling a heavy load. It is an unmarked, unpaved, unmaintained trail , wider than a deer trail (but not by much) and I always like watching the woods while I walk, seeing what I can see and listening for whatever critters are out and about. I hear the birds singing and chirping of course, and occasionally I’ll see or hear a chipmunk or red squirrel in the underbrush or scrambling up a tree. Today, though, what catches my attention early on is a great big brown/black lump on the path about 100 yards out. It is still pretty far down so I can’’t quiiiiiitte tell (yes I have glasses but I hate wearing them). In any case, Max stops short and starts to growl, deep. Hackles up head down, tail stiff. OK, that’s not great. And now I can make out what it is up ahead…maybe not the details, but it doesn’t take a genius to realize that there’s a big ol’ bear blocking the trail!

My first thought is “Shit!” and I start backing up, eyeing the underbrush on either side. I want to get off the trail and out of his way. I’ve been hiking and camping my whole life and it isn’t as if we don’t know what to do. It is part of every Park Ranger New Camper Orientation, posted in every Park Information Center, and on signs at all the parks near the trails. First, avoid. As I move backward, I’m also looking for a break where I can shift sideways into the trees, giving the bear plenty of space. At this point I’m just hoping he didn’t see us or — more likely — smell us! I know better than to dance with a bear. But no, damn-it!! The bear swings his head as he catches our scent. I’m betting we are putting out a pretty strong odor. It could be me and Max he smells — we could both use a good bath, for sure. Or maybe its just the fish. Gutted fish stink so they’d be pretty hard to miss.

The bear turns our direction and starts to lumber down the trail towards us. Oh, God. He’s not charging. Yet. But he is definitely coming. My brain frantically reviews Plans A, B and C for encountering bears: Plan A is avoid. Already tried that. My half-frozen brain helpfully offers up Plan B: If you are charged and can’t avoid, stand your ground and try to be scary. Do not run — they run faster. I’ve never really thought about that advice — never expected to need it. But seriously? Who in their right mind is going to stand still and let the bear charge them? I remember an old joke about that…you can’t outrun a bear, but you don’t have to. You just have to run faster than the person you are with. Not. Helpful. Then there is Plan C, which is even dumber: If A and B don’t work, play dead. I really, really hope it doesn’t come to that. He’s a big bear, and getting bigger with every step.

Max is going nuts, barking and growling, but he’s staying put directly in front of me. A smarter dog would have run already. Max isn’t necessisarily smart, but he is loyal. Bear is still coming though, and he’s easily got several hundred pounds on me. He also very definitely looks like he’s got a plan…which is more than I’ve got at the moment. I’m stuck somewhere between standing my ground and playing dead…and I really don’t like my odds for either of those. Oh, and then my brain comes up with one last snippet it thinks might help: always have your bear spray. Sorry brain, that won’t help. I’m the idiot who didn’t think he’d need bear spray today.

Still, I’m not planning to die today so I figure I have only one real play in this game. But I think it is a good one. Its a gamble, and I’ve never been a betting man, but I decide I’m going to gamble that he’s after the stinky fish, and would much prefer them to me or Max. Among other considerations, fish won’t yell or growl or fight back.

So I do the one thing that might actually buy us some time to hightail it out of there. I fling the whole string of salmon right at him. Sure it was our dinner…its all his now if he wants it. Look bear, nice juicy salmon right there in front of you!!! He lowers his head to sniff — and that’s my cue to get out of there!

We don’t wait around to see if he eats it all. The minute he turns his attention to the smelly fish, we start detouring to the side and around in a large arc. I’m fervently hoping he’s hungry and praying that he isn’t going to come looking for larger snacks when he is done. I’m moving as fast as I dare given the underbrush that practically screams our location with every broken twig. And as we move further away and deeper into the trees, I realize I don’t hear any birds chirping or calling. I can still hear the bear though, snuffling and crunching through scales and bones. Six fat salmon should take him a little while — I hope. Eventually I stop wincing every time a stick snaps. Max slowly stops growling and settles down, still sticking close. We pick up our pace (= jog) on a deer trail that is heading towards the truck. Max jumps in the back while I climb into the cab and close the door. And sit. Just for a bit, til the adrenaline stops flowing and I stop trembling.

So in the end, we made it out and no-one got hurt. That’s a miracle right there!! It could have ended so very badly. But Max and I are going to be having burgers from the diner tonight. With extra fries.

And I bought a whole case of the best bear spray on the market, plus a holster holder so I won’t be slowed down when I need it.

And that’s my bear story! What’s yours?

P.S. This is really and truly another suggestion for dealing with bear encounters: talk to the bear like it’s a dog, as in “Hi boy, here you go, aren’t you a handsome fella?” Supposedly "talking prey" might confuse the bear and keep it from attacking. Yeah….no. Who comes up with these?

** Author's note: I'm actually exploring three different narrative styles for the *same* story. Haiku (Bear, fish, run) is the simplest, then a poem in free verse and then the above short story told with humor. I'm interested in which receives the most reader response and engagement...which version do you think is better? Let me know!

A man said to the universe

“Sir, I exist”

“However,” replied the universe

“That fact has not created in me

A sense of obligation.”

- Stephen Crane

I lost my husband a year or so ago

Lost. Such a stupid euphemism.

He’s not lost.

I know exactly where he is – and it is the one place I cannot go

To bring him home.

Gone home. There’s another one.

Careful, gentle phrasing.

But I’m home. He’s not with me.

What other ways is death described?

Terms that aren’t as gentle for sure.

He kicked the bucket.

An old farming trope, that.

Kindof like “don’t cry over spilt milk.”

Or what would doctors say?

He expired. Right. Just like that milk.

And I cry all the same.

The kindest, easiest term is that

He passed away...it is a bit more accurate,

I think.

He passed through this world on his way

to a place I cannot follow.

Yet.

I continue to mourn, quietly.

I don’t think that goes away.

They say you grow through it, around it.

And eventually you rejoin the world

And begin again.

I have. I’m good (mostly).

And I’ve moved on -or at least I moved away.

New life, new places, even new love.

But the deep sadness came with me.

It’s part of me now, healed but still tender.

I know. It takes time.

So I’m getting on with my life

Except when I’m not.

Except when I stare out the window

Or lie awake in bed

Or write futile, angry poetry

At an indifferent universe.

We arrive unexpectedly

Kicking and screaming

Pushed roughly from that peaceful womb

Into the chaos that is world

And life

So much to do, see, feel, say!

We jump in, running fast

Stretch, catch and return

Shouting, laughing, crying

Loving -

Experiencing life,

Collecting joys and sorrows

By the armful.

Eventually

The process will reverse

We leave the chaos of the world

Retreat into gentle, constant days:

Oatmeal for breakfast

Pudding at supper

Naps in the dappled shade.

Vision and hearing begin to diminish

Oh, the relief!

The cacophony of life, the dissonance of

8 billion souls

Finally muffled.

Time now

Is marked by slower hands.

We can revisit memories

Ponder goals achieved

Loves lost -and found.

And so we are pulled

Gently back into the quiet spaces.

At night we sleep with blankets

Tucked securely all around

Dreaming into eternity.

My heart, since my youth, has

whispered to me, pointing to

other lives, other places

Other people

Demanding that I bear witness.

Once, these faraway lives

Told stories of joy and laughter

But too many now

Know only

Heartbreak and fear

Pain and loss

Helplessness, hunger

And a deep, aching sadness.

The despair of souls that are not my own.

“Yet,” says my heart, “we shall bear witness.”

And I can feel them with me

Their songs of sorrow all around me.

Although I long for the quiet

And ease

Of ignorance, indifference.

The world tells me “you don’t have to look”

So I should be blind to other’s wounds?

“You don’t have to listen”

So I will be deaf to their cries?

“You can have your comfortable life.

Their burdens are not yours.”

“No,” my heart says. “We shall bear witness.”

For I am not blind. I see.

I am not deaf. I hear.

I am not numb. I feel.

And I am not ignorant. I know

Their burdens are too heavy.

I will grieve with them.

I will grieve for them.

I shall bear witness.

Found a stash of chocolate chip

and macadamia nut cookies.

This is cookie monster heaven!!

Wait.

Someone drank all the milk?

This is definitely hell.