Love Poem: Robert Bear
David Mchattie Avatar
Written by: David Mchattie

Robert Bear

Robert Bear was sixteen years and lived south of Jackson Hole.
Where he was tired of a living and the dreams that it had stole.
He wished for peace and quiet so he found a hunting knife.
And boredom washed with trouble would take another life.
His Mother found him wounded... bleeding on the floor.
They could hear her howls of anguish for the child she adored.
But hope was quickly fading as the Elders soon arrived.
Where nothing could be done for him 
        and another Cree would die.

The Creator sent a *Trickster... to the village of the Cree.
To look out for a child who was lost among the trees.
The boy had suffered greatly and never found his place.
In a land of living waters where time had lost a race.
His end was all too common as another spirit quest was done.
Then the Trickster took him in his arms
        and brought home a cherished Son.

Her heart was quickly breaking for the boy she dearly loved.
And hoping for a spirit who would come from high above.
His Mother held him tightly praying for just one more breath.
But Robert Bear had passed away no different than the rest.
The world seemed dark and cruel for the boys of the Beaver Clan.
Where grief and sadness dogged their steps
        in the land where the rivers ran.

The Creator sent a Trickster... to the village of the Cree.
To look out for the children who were lost among the trees.
The boys had suffered greatly and never found their place.
In the land of living waters where time had lost a race.
Their end was all too common as another spirit quest was done.
Then the Trickster took them in his arms
        and brought home her cherished Sons.


*In Native Folklore, the Trickster is a messenger of the Creator who can be good or quite mischievous depending on the story.