She Scents the Bears

1991 COPYRIGHT
BY PETER CHRISTOPHER RAYMOND

IT'S ALL SOMEWHAT HABITUAL
THIS MOTHERLY MIDNIGHT RITUAL
SHE CAN'T CARESS HIM OR STEM HIS TEARS
TO COMPENSTAE SHE SCENTS THE BEARS
SHE SCENTS THE BEARS TO KEEP HIM STABLE
SHE SCENTS THEM AND REPLACES THEM IN THE CRADLE
CAN'T COMPREHEND WHAT COMFORT IT BRINGS
OR WHY SO TIGHTLY THE BABY CLINGS
SHE ONLY KNOWS THAT IT SOOTHES HIS FEARS
WHEN SHE TAKES THE TIME TO SCENT THE BEARS
THESE SCENTED BEARS WHEN HE'S ALONE
AT ONCE BECOME THE MOTHER CLONE
HE SHUTS HIS EYES AND HE CAN'T TELL
IT'S NOT HIS MOTHER BUT HIS MOTHER'S SMELL
OBVIOUSLY SMALLER, LIGHT AND HIRSUTE
BUT THIS ONE WILL DO AS A SUBSTITUTE
BUT THERE ARE VIRTUES WITH WHICH IT HASN'T BEEN BLESSED
THE WARMTH OF LOVE AND TENDERNESS
CAN'T BE COMFORTING OR INTIMATE
THE BURDENS OF BEING INATIMATE
BUT WHEN NOTHING ELSE IN THE DARK SEEMS TO CARE
HE CAN CLUTCH THAT CRUTCH HIS SCENTED BEARS