The Bear as Buddha

sits in the liquid twilight watching the
sun dissolve, her breath the fragrance of
sea grass. Like clouds, her thoughts gather,
separating earth from heaven, then disperse like
rain into the sea. The full moon of her belly
glows with abundance and she brightens the
water's surface with her reflection.
Licking her nose, she yawns.

Christiel Cottrel was born and grew up in the Beacon Hill area of Seattle.