The Bear Minimum

Early morning, in the country, Walking solo on the road, I was texting with my husband In his slow strained-muscle mode When I heard the bushes rustling So I glanced off to the right And the head of a black bear popped up, An unexpected sight. It was only for a moment, But our gazes did connect; Then the bear turned ‘round and vanished, Which is not what I’d expect. Bear! I texted, but my husband Thought I’d simply made a joke, So I called him and he heard the truth The minute that I spoke. I had 2 more miles of walking, Which I did, but I kept track, Peering in the woods intently, Just in case that bear came back.