Sus
Amber said
the Tsilcot'in
call you
Sas
say the Duneza
in Dunezasage
Sus Sas
You came
I drove
to meet you
from Gitladamkxs
past lava heaved by poplars
A car approaching
Almost stopped
I slowed
And so saw
You Sus
Sas
beside me
and I drove
And you ran
After me
I slowed
And stopped
You came up
beside me Sus
Sas
stopped
Moved your head
and heavy shoulders
walked
rippling your rich coat
in front of me
And looked back
at me
"Don't look into
a bear/sus' eyes"
Amber said
the Tsilcoti'in said
But we looked
You moving your nose/snout
Gesturing me to come

Back you came beside
the closed car passenger's door
I could not see you
or at times
only the ripple of your shoulders
could only feel
your power your presence
(Should I
Open the door
let you lick
my hand
Devour me?
I wondered
and thot no)
I drove a step
You came again
in front beside
my berries spilled
on the ground
You moved down
to the lake
you knew
you had caught me
I followed
Even as I drove
Slowly
past bear shadows
in the dark
between
the
Fireweed
I followed
you
Under neath the lake
to the upside down
world
your den
We embraced
passionately
I spent the winter
asleep
underneath your mass

Already I have born
Your cubs

Aballi bear
the cinnamon one
Amber
the great
Bear strong
as you her father
Juniper
the trickster cub
and Luke the latest

You put your robe on me
As I left in spring
Your claws dragging
in the damp earth

As I return
to my lake
Taller I stand
Now stronger
For your presence
Your mantle
cloaked in your
strength
and need
to share
to touch/couple/and move on