I have a dream for Sierra’s Bears

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter ~ML King Jr.

agitated bear-stare ~d nelson

This week I am inspired reading Martin Luther King’s words and other’s essays about his loving service to humanity. Then later, among other news I read about the Sierra Nevada’s bears becoming wide-awake during this warm, dry winter. “Black bears in the Sierra typically den or hibernate from December through early spring. But some have emerged from hibernation early in what’s been called a disastrous winter. Sierra residents startled as animals forage for food.” ~SF Chronicle

In empathy towards our affected brother and sister bears, for whom I am having this dream of compassion today. (the bear nobly speaks from within my dream)

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my two-legged friends.
Instead, may we respond with calm wisdom, and not react out of ignorance.
Your esteemed institutes of higher learning’s clothing offers insight, such as “let there be light”
and imagery of my kind, the bears.
Look deeply and see that true bears are flesh and blood
and not just images, logos and wooden statues.

old t shirt

20′ wooden bear

be light

welcome home bears

Somehow the world has changed, and I am unable to sleep this winter.
A sleepy bear does not care about arguments for or against climate change.
Why chase after the arsonist while letting the forest burn down?
A wise bear or person understands that we are all woven in this web of life
and clear-headed, decisive action is beckoning, today.
Not why, why, why, why…
Every bear can see there are countless ways
to show love for nature and give back some of what has been taken
before it’s too late
and all creatures standing are walking in their sleep.
Undoubtedly all will sacrifice
without discrimination by gender, age, race, belief or species.

I have a dream that one day this world will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men, women, bears and other living beings are created equal; out of star-dust.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, and every other hill and plain, the descendants of former oppressed beings and the descendants of former oppressors will be able to sit down together at the table of living beings in brotherhood.

I have a dream that my four little cubs will one day live in a world where they will not be judged by the color of their fur or size of their teeth but by the content of their character.

In order for this bear’s dream to come true there must first be sleep.
Refuel body, mind and spirit or run out of gas.
In solidarity with other creatures dazed by lack of winter, including the
polar bear, Tasmanian devils,  Arctic fox, Antarctic fur seal, snowy owl…

At this precipice upon which all living things now teeter,
may finding the good in the bad be our motto.
Clearly, not all will survive unscathed during this winter of discontent.
But, if this loud bell of mindfulness is heard
and human civilization wakes up to earth’s and other inhabitant’s yawns and cries,
recognizing that all desire the freedom to live,
that wisdom must prevail, with each mindful breath,
so that all beings will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old (human) Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

bear-hwy

bear-w-cubs

Written on behalf of all sleepy bears, in respect of Dr. King’s speech.