I know a ole bear

Furious and proud

Protective of what he deems his

Pushes and pulls and shares your dreams

Delightful in his great rumbling growl

His wit and humor know no bounds

Careful when trespassing on his hunting grounds

He knows how to rend with the power of the pen

With rhythm and rhyme his wisdom dances across the page

I count my lucky stars to be his friend

If you ask for his criticism heed his advice

His guiding hand helped me to aspire to greater heights

He issued challenges that redefined my written voice

Now all we will hear is a echo of his 

It will be a sad day when the ole bear hibernates

The light will dim down here in story land