BALLOONIMAL #1: Bear

Once, there was Big Bear who
Lived beneath an oak tree that was older than the moon
And when, Paul Logger came there
Paul did not care for The Forest.
Big Bear just couldn't believe it—
His tree was marked in toxic grime

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See, there was this Oak Tree,
Breathing out cool mist and being a Guardian of Life.
And when, his crown called rain clouds,
Tree kept the heat from choking the humans.
Each life required Tree's help—
He cleaned the air, calmed anxious minds.

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With Death, Paul Logger swung axe
Didn’t see Bear's paw strike flying fast from brushy side
And when, Paul peed his pants, cried.
Big Bear decided to eat him.
And now the forest's peaceful—
No noise, no stumps, no foul gas.

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When ranger asked the critters why,
“Hey, what happened to that guy?”
The squirrels just shrugged:
“Paul met Bear. Now he’s... inside.”

Now, Oak Tree still stands tall
With claw marks on his trunk as a big warning to us all.
And still Big Bear naps under
Dreaming sweet revenge should more axes dare to fall
The Forest remembers—
Don’t kill what helps you breathe.

Grrr grrr grrr grrr
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~ a poem by Dr. Love
(written in 2015)

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