By Marte Stuart
A bear’s in the kitchen,
thrashing about,
pulling apart what she can.
Framed photos broken
among the unpaid bills.
The home-made curtains
ripped down revealing
a talk-of-the-town mess.
Teapot’s toppled
the wedding glasses.
Embroidered linens
shredded beneath
the upturned baby’s chair,
fridge magnets scattered.
Shards of glass mixing
with raspberry jam
smashed too, licked about,
smeared. A cut foot and tongue
bleeding bright over dull surfaces.
Clawing around enclosed
in these four bloody walls
flailing, she too, frantic
for a way out.
About the Author
Marte Stuart assists with Nelson’s Elephant Mountain Literary Festival, an annual celebration of writers. She’s yet to have a bear in the kitchen, but bolts her door just in case.
