The Bear and the Mountain

  by Jean Warren

There once was a mountain

Who lived all alone.

He had no friends--

Not even a phone.

He smiled at planes

High in the sky.

But none of them stopped

As they flew by.

All through the winter

He was covered in snow

Then during summer

Wildflowers would grow.

He often saw people

Who came just to play.

But no one who came

Wanted to stay.

They were too busy---

Too much on the go.

Up they would climb,

Then down they would flow.

Then one fine day

Something paused and sighed.

As it huffed and it puffed

Up the mountain’s side.

Slowly up the mountain

Came a little brown bear

Wearing wildflowers

in her soft fuzzy hair.

“Hello, Big Mountain,

How do you do?

Can I please stay

This summer with you?”

“Of course,” said the mountain,

“It will be fun.

Run all you like

On my tummy-tum-tum.”

Little Bear was happy---

The mountain was, too.

Having a friend

Was something quite new.

Little Bear would race

Up the mountain’s side.

Then tumble and roll

And slip and slide.

All through the summer

Their friendship grew,

But then one day

The cold winds blew.

Now Little Bear

Knew that she had to go

Before the mountain

Was covered in snow.

“Please don’t go,”

The mountain cried.

“I’ll make a safe place

Where you can hide.”

He rumbled and rolled

And then cupped his arm

To make a warm shelter

All safe from harm.

Now Little Bear

Had a new home.

Now she would never

Have to roam.

Let the snow come---

She didn’t care.

She had a home

Just right for a bear.

The bear and the mountain

Were a sight to see,

Each with a friend,

Living happily.