THE OJAI BEAR [1]

A bear was killed in Ojai, California several years ago. The native "americans" have been holding Bear Ceremonies to honor the bear - the bear is very important to California. There is a picture of a bear on the California flag. But the bear was in someone's yard, and they called Animal Control, who shot the bear, not with tranquilizing darts, but with real bullets. This year will be the last Bear Ceremony. The following is a poem that I wrote on September 12, 2010, the date of the first Bear Ceremony that I personally attended:

 

To The Ojai Bear

Oso, oso,

Ursa, ursa,

BEAR

of pure transcendent glory

We who live

to tell your story

We will love you all our days.

We found you wounded

in the trees,

We cried and beat

our wounded knees,

we wept, we wailed,

we took you home,

but nothing further could be done.

Oso, oso,

Ursa, ursa,

When we name you

we are One.

 

Blessings,

Astreia