Bear circles Yule fire
drumming sunrise to sunset
gift of tobacco
cool blue snow cave hides
monks of the animal world
heartbeat disappears
long sleep of Winter
cubs born in hibernation
lean fat of the land
Winter Solstice past
contemplative Void lingers
the promise of Spring
Cool Drums, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Winter Solstice, December 21st 2008, all photos © 2008 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
Promise Of Spring
New Year’s Eve approaches. Black-eyed peas are soaking in a pot on the stove, awaiting the bone of ham. Taking a much needed rest, I’m reminded of the hibernation of Bear. We learned on a wind chilled, -18 degree Winter Solstice that bear cubs are born during hibernation in the black cold of January.
After the Winter cave of silent dreams, we move into 2009 with the promise of rebirth — Spring.
The Bear Facts
To learn more about the winter habits of Bears and other hibernating animals such as squirrels, groundhogs, chipmunks, bats, rattlesnakes, and hedgehogs, visit these links:
- Secrets of Hibernation by Peter Tyson on PBS Nova Online — with University of Minnesota graduate student and bear expert, Lynn Rogers
- Ask A Wildlife Biologist: Do Bears Really Sleep All Winter? By Sean Farley — Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation
- Ursus Americanus — American Black Bear — University of Michigan Museum of Zoology – Animal Diversity Web
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game – Brown Bear (Ursus Arctos)
-posted on red Ravine, Tuesday, December 30th, 2008, with gratitude to my friends Carol, Susan, and Gail
-related to post: haiku (one-a-day)
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