Turn on the live cams—
it’s Fat Bear Week
in Alaska, and I’m all in,
though, honestly, I don’t care
about the competition—
which bear wins. I just want
to spy online at the ursine
eaters with massive jaws
and paws fishing for salmon
on the Brooks River. And since
I likely won’t get to Katmai
National Park to watch them
them live any time soon—
spots on the railing over the river
being harder to snag than tickets
to a Taylor Swift concert,
according to one reporter—
I’m happy to watch one of three
bear cams running day and night.
Even in black and white, before
the sun rises, there’s a big fella
wading as fish jump like meteors
not far from him—but those salmon
are fast and wily. Still, the biggest
bears obviously have technique,
shagging salmon like pitchers
catching fly balls, gaining weight
like sumo wrestlers. Oh, look—
check out the mama teaching by
example her techniques to
two large cubs. And there’s
a grand buddha-shaped bear
sitting up to his waist in
water, meditating on a hunk
of white flesh between his
jaws. This week I’ll pop in to
spy on the bears, oblivious
to their media star status,
though I am impressed
with their bulk and dedication
to their autumnal task:
Catch fish. Eat fish.
Bulk up for winter. Sleep.
Lumber outside into a
sparkling spring. Start again.
•••
You can see the Brooks River bears on the bear cams here. Scroll down a bit to see the live cams of the bears.
Güd wrtr 
What a wonderful poem! It’s 5:29 a.m. and I’m grinning. Love this:
Catch fish. Eat fish.
Bulk up for winter. Sleep.
Lumber outside into a
sparkling spring. Start again.
(I think the poem could end here! Life is good is an unneeded tell, in my opinion….)
Hope you don’t mind my reflection.
Love,
Amrita
Thank you, Amrita! I agree with you about the ending. I’m making that change now!
You are so kind to take my suggestion! I hope you didn’t mind. You are free to comment on my poems, too. I’m always trying to grow and learn. I signed the contract for my book yesterday! Yay!
Much stronger! Channeling my poetry mentor here….
Thanks Jan for alerting me to Fat Bear Week!!! We just finished Otter Awareness Week and I relished watching those amazing creatures – so active, playful and agile. But, REALLY, I can relate much more to FAT Bear Week! I need to understand to “bulk up for winter”, not all year long! I’m grateful for the reminder AND for all these amazing creatures, including humans!
Love, ~Connie
You, who live in such a cold place, certainly understands the concepting of preparing for winter… and like you, I tell myself, not all year long!