The Bear, the Fire, and the Snow
The Bear, the Fire, and the Snow - meaning Summary
Circles of Mutual Fear
This short poem presents a circular chain of anxieties: bear fears snow, snow fears fire, fire fears river, and river fears bear. Each speaker describes a simple, literal threat while the repetition highlights how fear moves through a system rather than resting in one place. The ending returns to the bear, underscoring irony and the perpetual loop of vulnerability. Tone is plain and didactic, suited to children but resonant for adults.
Read Complete Analyses'I live in fear of the snow,' said the bear. 'Whenever it's here, be sure I'll be there. Oh, the pain and the cold, when one's bearish and old. I live in fear of the snow.' 'I live in fear of the fire,' said the snow. 'Whenever it comes then it's time I must go. with its yellow lick flames leaping higher and higher, I live in fear of the fire.' 'I live in fear of the river,' said the fire. 'It can drown all my flames anytime it desires, and the thought of the wet makes me sputter and shiver. I live in fear of the river.' 'I live in fear of the bear,' said the river. 'It can lap me right up, don't you know?' While a mile away you can hear the bear say, 'I live in fear of the snow.'
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