Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Tenderfoot

In the wild, all the black bears know

That fire in any form is bad.

Sometimes we are caught in fire though,

Stories of which can be so sad.

I was such a bear who was burned

So badly, rescuers could not

Save me, no matter how concerned,

And so quick, painless death I got.

I understood and did not blame.

With much compassion they spoke of

Me, and Tenderfoot was my name.

I spent life's last moments in love.

In songs and poems about me

The spirit of this black bear be.