The Many Coloured Bear At Rest In A Variegated Light Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

to Mr. Perry Cordill in praise of his painting, 'Papa Bear'

a popsicle bear shrilled the little girl
blue raspberry! where he slurped it in the grass
while reveling in the sun smiled her mother
(that must have been after the children dropped them
as they'd run)

or soaked to his bear bones in the tangerine rains that come
half butterscotch half butter rum said the miner
a little shyly
in the coldest creamiest Spring we've ever had
or flat dead-center in the Northern Lights
a rainbow sherbet bear the little girl breathed reverently
coming close to it
still shaggy, for all that resplendence thought
her thoughtful maiden aunt with sensible shoes
and cherries on her hat

a Kodiak bear at large in the paint store in a western town
at the foot of gold mountains
with blueberry yogurt on his muzzle

a sunrise bear it just can't be sunset

or this is how he feels at the height of summer
all rainbow stippled, matted with orange blossom honey
or lumbering through Forever the God of
all rainbows at his heels
driving him farther into total Bear Happiness
into berry crowded thickets.
in a lingering spectrum
fantastical

mary angela douglas 19 april 2014