• The Impatient Learner
    By Dove Hart

    It was a cool, crisp, September day
    Josh, on his own, was fishing today.
    A strong, young, but inexperienced bear
    Disobeying mother and didn’t care
    Independence called him. The land was this
    Stretch of woods that would someday be his
    The leaves were turning orange, gold and red
    As the wind blew, leaves landed on his head

    The sun hadn’t risen as he walked
    To his favorite river, which he soon sought.
    It wasn’t long before the sun did rise,
    Then Josh saw it, the lovely fish; his prize.
    It wriggled in the water underneath
    his paws swiftly with a snap of his teeth
    He caught the fish, but then heard a rumbling
    Beaver’s dam, it broke! Water was tumbling
    Towards him, like a speeding metal train
    White water engulfed him and he was slain

    His bear friend Jen awoke with a start
    Huffing and panting she clutched her heart
    She had to think, it was only a dream,
    But so real, was God telling her something?
    She jumped off the grass and ran to find her peer
    Just to be sure that she could prevent this fear
    She found Josh walking towards the thicker trees
    “Josh wait!” she cried trying not to plead.
    “He stopped, and turned around in surprise
    “Jen!” he said “Your turn is after sunrise”
    “I know” she said back “But I had this dream
    That you drowned, so I’m going this morning.
    I have fished allot more, by years three
    So I believe that you should follow me”


    Josh indeed knew this, but he wanted to
    Impress Jenny with what he could do.
    Josh laughed after she told this story.
    “Oh Jen, you just want to steal the glory.”
    And why would adventure be scaring you?
    You’re sure you’re my friend? You sure you are true?

    Let a bear go fishing on his own,
    I promise I’ll come back fine to your home.

    Jen said “I should tell you this bird story,
    A tale long ago my mother told me.”
    Josh said “Jenny, I don’t have the time.”
    But she told him anyway, holding his line.

    One spring morning, this mother blue bird was
    Dreaming her young one tried to fly because
    He wanted to show that he was just as strong
    As his bigger brothers, but fell the long,
    Long, distance to the ground breaking a wing.
    Mother awoke so, she made the nest swing.
    “Mother what is it?” the young ones all said.
    “I dreamt your little brother fell down, nearly dead
    when he tried to fly out of the nest!”
    Mother chirped and chirped, crying in protest.
    Her little chick laughed to hear such a thing.
    “I can’t fly yet, I have too small of wings.
    I though you were so fearless and bold.”
    “But I am, my precious” so then she told
    Her bigger chicks “Do not tease your little
    Brother and I’ll be back in a fiddle,
    I’m off to find your morning breakfast.”
    So mother blue bird took off from the nest.

    “Bye mamma.” Little brother waved a wing.
    His big brothers laughed and began to sing:
    “Mamma’s little baby will never fly,
    I bet it will take him all spring to try.”
    They teased and taunted him until he could
    not stand it. He wanted to show he would
    Be the youngest blue bird ever to fly!
    Then he jumped out of the nest and fell,
    Breaking a wing; stranded in living hell.
    “Mamma, Brothers!” he chirped and cried.
    Alone and broken, he slowly died.
    What’s the moral of this story you ask?
    Never cut corners, first practice your task

    “Ok stop!” Josh whispered “That’s just too sad.
    Jen, why’d you have to tell something that bad?
    I’m still going, no matter what you say.”
    Then the trees ate him as he when this way.

    Jenny sighed, and then sat down in the grass
    She hoped he was right, just all a big act
    She must have dozed off, for when she woke up,
    The sun was rising, with light just enough
    To see by, just like the dream she just dreamt
    Then she heard a cry. Josh needed her help!
    In one quick move she was up off the ground
    Running through the woods to follow the sound

    “Where are you Josh? I’ll follow your voice!”
    “I’m sorry Jen, this was a bad choice!”
    He cried and moaned in so much pain.
    So embarrassed, tears fell like silver rain.
    Soon Jen found him just down the river
    Pinned to rocks, water making him quiver.
    It pounded on him, flooding the stream
    Just like the horrible flood in her dream


    “You said you were a decent swimmer Josh!” she spoke.
    “I know Jen, I’m not, and Beaver’s dam broke!
    “I accidentally cracked it yesterday”
    She stopped, wide-eyed. “You almost had to pay
    For this with your life! Never cut corners!
    Why would you go fish on Beaver’s borders
    If you knew this whole time her dam was cracked?
    What have you learned now, that you seemed to lack?


    “All right Jen, I should have listened to you.
    And never cut corners, I get this too.”
    With a moment to take in a deep breath
    She plunged in, to save him from a cold death