Huge hulk
two tons
wizened warrior
unphased ungulate
underneath
shag hair –
crusted brambles adorning
winter weather layers
atop.
Roaming sages
grazing greenery just so
for new life,
hollowing behemoth puddle prints –
concave craters
of pressed earth
that offer an
inadvertent
bird bath
for feathered friends
and a drinking hole for others.
Boulder-built
light-footed
blipping over
herculean heights
with ease,
outrunning
all adversaries
save one.
Bereft of allies with influence,
terrorized and
helpless
against
ignorance and arrogance
you were
expunged.
Yet,
an enduring notion of
silent grit
and
profound patience
is your gift
in return.
You are
all that
and more.
You
are
beautiful bison.
Just Sifting 
Your poem helps me think about the bison in a new way. Whereas I usually just think of it as a big, shaggy animal, you present it as an animal worthy of respect and admiration. I appreciate your perspective; it has shifted mine.
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Thank you!
Read Buffalo for the Broken Heart for more, if you’d like. Such a great – true life story. That book, and seeing them out west just captivated me, and they have been my favorite animal since. Thank you for letting me know 🙂
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Thank you so much. It pains me to think of what we have historically done to bison who are living, feeling animals and such a huge, integral part of the plains ecosystem. If this helped to convey a need for respect on their behalf, then I am happy. Thank you for letting me know- I really appreciate it:)
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I love this. I too am an admirer of this majestic creature.
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Thank you, Bill. No surprise to me that you are an admirer. Kindred spirits.
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Well written. And it is tragic that humans are destroying everything.
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It is very painful to think about and often shameful to be human. However, heres hoping we can take examples of humility and connectedness from nature and coexist 🙂
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I hadn’t considered the ecosystem of bison until I read this piece! And you said so much with so few words. Your word choice really kept the pace of the peace moving he was easy to read from stanza to stanza. I really enjoyed this.
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Thank you so much! I was smitten for life when I saw them out west for the first time, and happened to pick up a copy of Buffalo for the Broken Heart by Dan O’Brien. It’s a true-life about a teacher turned rancher who converts his failing cattle ranch into a bison ranch (bison are the animals evolved to live in those western plains extremes, and sustain the habitat – not cattle!). Such an eye opening read. If you are even remotely interested, I highly recommend.
Thank you so much for letting me know this resonated with you. I am grateful.
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What a lovely poem to the truly magnificent bison, what an incredible creature, you have described it wonderfully!
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