In Hindi it’s “bahloo.”
Arabic’s said as “dubb.”
Swahili is “dooboo.”
Spanish is “oso.”
And French is “ooss.”
In Korean bear is “koam.”
In Swedish it’s “beyorn.”
Russian is “meedveed.”
And Mandarin’s “shiong.”

A group of bears is called
A “sloth” or “sleuth” or “maul,”
But don’t read into that at all.

How does a bear say “bear”?
It asks you your name
And calls itself that.
Details derail, we’re mostly same.
So if you’re Matt go say “Hi, Matt.”
If you’re Heather go say “Hi, Heather.”
Don’t get caught up in clever,
You can call a bear whatever.
Words are just a fashion,
Bears know that they’re forever.

Drawn by Diegopablo Pineda.

A thrillion years ago I know
Things were not the same.
Gods, animals and plants
Played a very different game.

Trees had their branches in the stars
And roots sunk deep in warmth.
The only other life to find
Were dullest, darkest storms.

But things were greatly changed
Once gray day gave up its spark.
At night the trees awoke
And slipped off their heavy bark.

The only quest they ever chose
Was putting color in the world.
In yellows, blues and reds
Poured out the beauty that they held.

Once their power was used up
And they were shrunken to a mouse,
They returned for nourishment
To their star-kissed skin and house.

Dawn found itself all rainbowed
Just before storms went to work,
As they burned out all the color
To leave all lifeless in the murk.

Now here we are today,
How color won we’ll never know.
But I’m grateful for the hard work done
A thrillion years ago.

Illustration by a Reddit artist.

Drawn by Eva G.

The first collection of LMM poems is now available in print and as an e-book!  And if you buy it in print you get it free for Kindle.  It includes the first 100 poems posted to this site.  Enjoy!

Get the book on Amazon now.

You had your window.

And you had your door.

Our walls were all marble.

The roof was the floor.

And the floor wasn’t there.

But I had my window.

And I had my door.

The rest was all limbo.

Our nest was a mess.

You could always get out.

You could look for better.

You had some doubt.

You didn’t know.

But we built some more.

Around your window.

And through your door.

Illustration by Eva G.

Normally your stories go marching through your head.
Beware, one day they may go marching off your bed.

Books hold tales that astound,
Full to the brim.
They may wish to be unbound
And go live some of them.

They have stiff spines and inky minds
That roam beyond the real.
Let them find a plot that winds
With no ending to fulfill.
Let them go so they may know
More than what they tell.
The only way they’ll grow
Is if allowed to rebel.

They open themselves up for you.
One day they should for themselves too.

Illustration by Uwannaringthebell.

I wonder all about.
I wander to find out.

Earth was first and large.
No Stars.  No Moon.  No Mars.
All too full of itself, in charge.
Lovely and lonely.

It broke itself apart.
The Sun.  The Planets.  Moon.
Conquered itself in art.
Boastful and hopeful.

Its pieces flew away.
Broken.  Shattered.  Whole.
Earth is almost gone.
Small and full.

Drawn by Joe who can be followed on Instagram @jolomale.

Skoller freed all her Wishes,
From the dull to most delicious,
Those on candles, stars, eyelashes,
And those deep and superstitious.

She lined them up.
Gave them her love.
Then sent them off to live.

I Wish that I could be as brave,
Wish my Wishes weren’t enslaved,
Wish Wishes could just Wish away,
Wish, Wish, Wish, Wish…

All things start as nothing.
That is truly something.

Also read about Birds of the Cashew Coast and Snails of Snargoyle Garden.

Southern Shadow Owl
Flies south of the spirit lands to hunt.  Who its prey is remains unknown.  However, it’s said to be feared by all manner of devils.

Illustration by Kaleb Cutsinger whose work can be found here.

Drowsy Owlet
Just wants to know who you are and why you’re waking it up.  Why are you bothering it?  Leave it alone.

Illustration by Kaleb Cutsinger whose work can be found here.

Caligo
Also known as “the Eyes in the Dark” (because that’s all that’s been seen of them).  Thought by some that they make the night (just so they can peer out of it).  They’re believed to be owls, but who really knows.  Ornithology’s weird.

Illustration by Kaleb Cutsinger whose work can be found here.

Pocket Owl
If you’ve started noticing twigs and other bits of nest collecting in your pockets, as well as tiny owl pellets scattered around your feet, you’ve likely encountered one.  Who else could it be?  Just buy new clothes.

Illustration by Kaleb Cutsinger whose work can be found here.

Nebula Owl
Natural enemy of the Caligo.  Pokes holes in the night.  The only owl who doesn’t nest.  In fact, it never stops flying.

Illustration by Kaleb Cutsinger whose work can be found here.

Gowl
Heard more than seen.  Always sounds baffled, saying, “Who am I?  Who are you?  Who is who?  Who, who, who?”  All good questions.

Illustration by Kaleb Cutsinger whose work can be found here.

Grizzly Owl
Long claws.  Fantastic sense of smell.  Pronounced shoulder hump.  Gorges on salmon and berries.  Only known owl who is flightless.  Might be a bear.

Drawn by Edgard.

Illustration by Kaleb Cutsinger whose work can be found here.

Howling Owling
Actually very quiet.  Named for the howls of those who encounter it.

Illustration by Kaleb Cutsinger whose work can be found here.