Kids' Own Pages:

Erik's Page
Peter the Pickle (story)
Jeremy's Page

Did you see, Grandma?
Grandma, did you see?
I made a lake; did you see?

Against the glint of silver waves,
a starfish-purple T-shirt. The sun was too bright,
too blinding to see more. You crouched on the sand,
a burrowing sea creature
immune to the swirl of wind and light, of ball players
tossing shouting running leaping.

Once you stood; I saw the flash of yellow on your back
as you turned, searching. For a clam shell, maybe,
to shovel with? A rock to make an island?

My patch of shade wavered
and shrank. My nose roasted. You dug.

I troweled on sunscreen, buried red toes
in the sand, squinted
into the glare. You brought me your shadow
to shield my eyes.

Grandma, did you see?

Twin toe volcanoes
Earthquake-crevassed plain
Shifting sand dunes
Quicksand!

What's this I'm hearing,
Oso Bear?
Such behaviour,
Oso Bear!
What Erik tells me - is it true?
Is this something bears should do?
Is your mother proud of you,
Oso Bear?

You've been nibbling - did you dare?
Chocolate candies in your lair.
Easter eggs that Mommy hid,
Chocolate bunnies for a kid,
You've been biting - Yes, you did!
Oso Bear.

Good bears eat berries,
Oso Bear,
From the forest,
Oso Bear.
Blackberries with purple juice,
Strawberries, or you can choose
Thimble, huckle, logan, goose,
Oso Bear.

Your big cousin, grizzly bear,
Flips a salmon in the air,
Shimmery trout from quiet pools,
Oolichan that swim in schools.
Bears eat fish, if they aren't fools,
Oso Bear.

What's that you tell me,
Oso Bear?
Don't like seafood,
Oso Bear?
But chocolate eggs are just no good-
For bears, that is; I think you should
Try ants or termites. Sure you could,
Oso Bear!

Have you tried honey,
Oso Bear?
Bears love honey,
Oso Bear.
Sweet and fragrant, gooey; plus,
Eat it all; no-one will fuss.
Just leave the Easter eggs for us,
Oso Bear!