Bear went to the bee tree
To lap up some honey.
His tongue it got stung;
It wasn't so funny.

But honey's so good
When you're drinking it down,
That he barely noticed
The bee sitting down.

He licked and he slurped
'Til the honey was gone
And then loudly burped,
And gapped a big yawn.

He rubbed his big back
'Gainst the bark of the tree;
For that's what bears do
For the itching, you see.

Bear walked from the bee tree
Down to the clear creek
To give to the big
Sockeye salmon a peek.

He caught a big fish,
Ate it, head, tail and fins.
Then splashed as he gave
His big paws a good rinse.

He climbed up the hill
And looked up at the bee tree
Thought he, I'll have more
Or my name's not D'mitri!

But the bee tree was empty,
His lapping the reason.
So for honey he waited
Until the next season.

Robert MacBride 1990 ©