Grumpy’s Bear

Grumpy’s Bear – I use to live near Grand Lake, Colorado which is about 9,000 feet in altitude and the gateway into Rocky Mountain National Park and some of the most remote wilderness areas in Colorado. Grumpy’s is a saloon on Main Street that I use to partake in a cold beverage from time to time. The beginning of this poem and tale is true and the rest maybe – not so true.

Grumpy’s Bear
One summer night in Grumpy’s Saloon in Colorado – town of Grand Lake,
Nursing a couple of beers – when walked in a bear for goodness sake.

He appeared out of the darkness and strolled through an open back door,
Jake, Eddie and I were in disbelief and hoping there weren’t any more.

We were staring when Jake pointed and stuttered, “Do you see the damn bear?”
Slowly shaking my head – I gasped, “I am not blind Jake – I see him over there!”

Now Grand Lake is near timberline in the mountains with bears all around,
My buddies and I – never heard of a tale in a saloon – one had ever been found.

Now this here bear was one magnificent and powerful looking fellow,
For the moment it would seem he was just curious and very mellow.

Then he spied a beer on the other side of the bar and reached for the can,
Raising my eyebrows and a little disgusted – I was never a Budweiser fan.

With one colossal swipe – he split that can wide open and spilled all the beer,
He started to slap his huge paws on the bar – giving us something to fear.

With a valiant roar the 800 pound bear looked at me drinking my cold Coors lite,
Thinking now if that bear went for my Coors it was going to be one hell of a fight.

Jake and Eddie were terrified when Eddie muttered, “Hurry boys to the pickup!”
Dammit- Grumpy’s was our bar – “Stand your ground boys now is the time too – Cowboy Up!”

Thinking – there never was a horse that couldn’t be rode or a bear that couldn’t be beat,
Pointing at the bear, “You better settle your furry ass down and get lost or take a seat!”

That mammoth bears simple mind you could see the wheels and gears were spinning,
As Jake, Eddie and I with Coors lite in hands and now the 3 of us – all were grinning.

That bear now pondered and deciphered that the boys and I had grown a pair,
Out – the open back door whence he came – into the darkness went Grumpy’s Bear.
Kurt James

Kurt James © 2017

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Kurt James

The rugged beauty of the Colorado Rockies foothills shaped Kurt James’ life from birth, with the ever-present sight of snow-capped peaks and the constant whisper of the wind. Having spent twenty years amidst the wide-open spaces of South Dakota, Kurt’s connection to his family’s western Kansas heritage remains strong; he recalls the tallgrass prairie and the endless blue skies. Over time, Mr. James developed a deep appreciation for the landscapes and history of the American West,spending countless hours exploring its rugged beauty and studying its unique culture.

The Denver Post, PM Magazine, and 9NEWS, all well-known Denver, Colorado media sources, have highlighted the powerful and evocative work of poet and novelist Kurt James. Focusing on Old West history, Kurt contributes feature articles to HubPages and Creative Exiles, exploring the eerie silence of ghost towns, the thrilling tales of outlaws and gunfighters, and the evocative imagery found in the Rocky Mountains.

Kurt’s early admiration for writers such as Jack London, Louis L’Amour, and Max Brand played a significant role in honing his skills as a storyteller. Twenty-one books (and counting!) transport readers to the Colorado Rockies and the Old West through Kurt’s vivid descriptions; the feel of rough-hewn cabins, the sounds of coyotes howling under starry skies, and the smells of campfire smoke and sagebrush are all palpable.

Find Kurt James novels, short stories, reference books, and poetry—published by Midnight Wind Publishing—in print copies or digital downloads at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and other excellent bookstores; explore the diverse range of formats available.

Currently in production - The 10th book in his Rocky Mountain Series - Lee Moomaw Former Lawman.

Kurt is a proud member of the Western Writers of America, a group that values storytelling.

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