Text Box: Kootznoowoo 

(Fortress of the bears)

Coastal Brown Bear, 
omnivore of temperate rainforest, 
u-shaped valleys, and rounded ridge,
when the Tlingit took you
they covered your body
with goose down
and pointed your head
towards the north star 
so your spirit 
would tell the other bears
that you had been treated
with respect and honor.

Prickly porcupine ginseng 
salmon berries red
in sodden green 
of Tongass rain
slung white cascade, 
muskeg---then mountain alpine 
into long nights, auroras,
brother salmon’s gift
enough for all.

Where bears have walked
so many thousands of years
that the rock has become roar,
this 
       sacred  
                    place.

© 2005 Dan Kantak

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friends of Bears

 

http://www.alaskabears.org/friends.php