The Bear In The Sierra Nevada Poem by Gayle Sweeney

Once I was walking all alone in the sparkling, sunshiny Sierra Mountains.
Up the wooded path a bit a black bear appeared by a knoll on the horizon.
Suddenly I turned to run far far away
But I knew in a quick flash this wasn't play.
Instead I stood as still as the closeby, heavenly trees
In the wide open spot, not knowing if the bear saw me.
I just really didn't know if the big bear
Was surely at last finally gone.
When I looked up it wasn't anywhere though,
Then silently I kept walking on.
The magnificent forest was an ancient and sacred cathedral -
Shimmery and alive.
Later I stopped by a cliff with a deep, wild valley below me
And dancing trees proudly nigh!

I was walking in the Sierra Nevada California when I was in my twenties. Up in the sunny blue sky one day I envisioned written in powder cloud white the word Sacred. In my memory the trees were like spires on many cathedrals.