On Why It Is Absolutely Necessary to Talk to Teddy Bears

to have a friend who listens patiently

          to whatever you have to say

someone who will talk to you

          whenever you are lonely

                   or just want a friend to share with

someone who loves you just the way you are

maybe

after you have talked to your teddy bear

          long enough and often enough

you will learn to talk to

Mountain Lion

and Coyote

Wild Turkey

and Red Tail Hawk

Rattlesnake

and Cutthroat Trout

maybe you will listen hard enough

          in the silence of the wild

                   to hear them talk back to you

and perhaps if you talk long enough

          to Weasel

          and Squirrel

                   you will be able to talk with

Red Cedar and

Ponderosa Pine

Mariposa Lily

and Gentian

Black Oak and

Douglas Fir

maybe you will listen hard enough

and long enough

to hear them speak of patience

unconditional love

and the fear of chain saws

then

when you have learned from

a blade of grass

what it is like to wave in the sun

          and die

maybe then you will be quiet enough

and listen slow enough to be able to talk to

Exfoliated Granite

Rutilated Quartz

Schizt

Serpentine

Conglomerate

Rolled River Rocks

Basalt

and Bedrock

and if you are quiet enough and listen slow enough

you might learn from their ancient wisdom

          of patience and transformation

                   of fire and water

                             of earth and sky

and then you will respect the earth

          and all her children

So it could be.

          -Raven Joy