the spirit of the bear

spirit of the bear

i am the spirit of the bear
and i am in such prolonged, 
deep pain
some humans out there
think we bears are here
for hunting or
to entertain
to dance in the circus
to be baited and tormented
or our parts used for medicine
by those humans, demented
we belong to the forests,
to the mountains and streams
this is supposed to be our reality
not just in our dreams.