This Poem was Submitted By: Kenneth R. Patton On Date: 2004-11-17 11:58:03 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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Last Milk

The mother bear turned and roared Charging the adolescent He was stunned and ran a short distance Then sat bawling for his milk He didn’t know he’d suckled his last That she’d done her best to prepare him He cried alone for awhile then turned away distracted by some tasty berries She returned to her lair and rested preparing for the new life stirring

Copyright © November 2004 Kenneth R. Patton

Additional Notes:
For some reason I feel like that cub


This Poem was Critiqued By: Erzahl Leo M. Espino On Date: 2004-11-29 20:28:42
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
Hi Kenneth, Fresh…inspiring…reflective! You captured this “wild life” scenario powerfully. I like how you write this in short and concise structure. You summarized it effectively. I liked how you picture the overprotective and caring mother bear and the sweet, naïve and innocent baby bear. Touching…you let my heart go with them (and with you…you “feeling-like” a little cub). :) “Last Milk” could be our dreams, our ambitions and with the care of our Father above, on how we are being “distracted” by His continuous blessings, we will continue to reach that goal because He is in control. His plan is greater than ours, and He has been preparing it for us all. Thank you for your renewing and rejuvenating message. Yes “Last Milk” is not the end but the beginning of good things. Outstanding! Wondrous are your words! As always, Erzahl :)


This Poem was Critiqued By: James Edward Schanne On Date: 2004-11-29 13:16:45
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.50000
The knowledge that we're on our own can strike us unaware and then its a matter of how we deal with it of course. Thanks for letting me read and comment.
This Poem was Critiqued By: Dellena Rovito On Date: 2004-11-18 17:16:35
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.88889
Kenneth, Oh how sweet this is. I think you possably are that cub! There comes a time.......... In directly we do the same as that mother bear trying to get her child to stand on it's own. The sooner the better actually. We're usually awfully late. Mostly from ignorance. I loved this poem story. It brings me back to my motherhood. It's very nice. I'm now distracted by tasty berries. thanks for the read. dellena
This Poem was Critiqued By: marilyn terwilleger On Date: 2004-11-17 15:45:08
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Hi Ken, I am completely taken by this poem. Probably because I have seen mother bears do this as they must wean one to have another. I always feel sorry for the little cub. Once, while walking in timber, we came apon a cub laying across the branch of a tree. He looked a bit bored but we knew his mama had run him up the tree and then left him knowing that when he got hungry he would come down and forage for himself. He would miss her at first, but would soon learn to cope with life and all it's pitfalls. If you are feeling somewhat abandoned and alone right now take faith in the fact that soon you will suddenly wake up and be able to cope with the 'slings and arrows' of life. Sometimes we need to learn the hard way, just as this little bear cub, so we won't forget the lesson and will be even stronger than before....I know this cub is fine now even tho he sorta broke my heart just as the one that laid across the branch waiting to be rescued. Peace....Marilyn
This Poem was Critiqued By: Tony P Spicuglia On Date: 2004-11-17 12:35:13
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.92308
Kenneth, this is a scene seen so many times on the "information" channels, and each time I feel a twinge of guilt for the mother. The awaiting life of the child will soon turn from fear to excitement and discovery, but for the mother, the burden goes on. Unlike the wild kingdom, for humans this transfers over to the fathers as well. Charging the adolescent - I like your choice of "charging", it indicates not only the "false" anger that the mother must show towards the adolescent to "make her point", the child not really understanding that the mother wouldn't really hurt him/her. But also, the charge, in a sense "charges" the adolescent with making his/her own life. Go and make something of yourself, it is your time now. Great choice of words. Then sat bawling for his milk - Although this is the sad part of your verse, I think it is also the moment that will decide whether the young bear makes it or doesn't. There is strenth in truthfullness, and that truthfullness will be more than obvious soon. He cried alone for awhile then turned away distracted by some tasty berries - here is the discovery beginning that the cub could never have imagined. He/she'll try to return a few more times, but eventually, the end and beginning make coalesce. I like your choice of distracted, for really it is usually the excitement of discovery which makes one leave home, no matter the unknowns. preparing for the new life stirring - for the bear we understand what this means, I think for us as humans there are two meanings, that of raising the remaining brood, but also the "newly found" excitement that life is, subsequent to the children leaving. All of these feelings have invested themselves in me, and I seem to escape few. Thank you for sharing, and I wonder if you feel you're being pushed away, or if you are the pusher with new life.
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