She-Bear's Dream Poem by Joan Woodbridge

I am She-Bear denned in sweet earth
I dream snow-covered leaves and frozen fields
I dream fish asleep in icy rivers
I dream leafless trees and waning light
I dream the wind that moves the leafless trees above me

for a time, I sleep
dreamless

as I sleep warmth gathers in the den
my breath
heavy with winter begins the thaw
I dream the return of the sun
I dream flowers fragrant and bright pushing out of snow
I dream small green leaves and blossoming trees

Without my dreaming, Spring would never come