Bears.(Poem)

 
BEARS 
 
   PawPaw and Paprika, two great bears of the Egyptians 
   of Lancashire, Chohawniskey Tem, the Witches' County, 
 
   who, when our camp plucked its tents and pulled out its maps, 
   walked steadily with the wagons, ambling, always ambling, 
 
   all across the open pages of wet England, footing 
   as far as Pappin-eskey Tem, the flat Duck County; 
 
   crossing to Curo-mengreskey Gav, the Boxers' Town; 
   padded on to Paub-pawnugo Tem, Apple-Water County 
 
   as good for bears as for their gypsy masters, although 
   who is master is moot after much apple-water; 
 
   then to bide by Bokra-mengreskey Tem, Shepherds' County, 
   for their collies are trained not to bark at bears, but slyly, 
   gently, 
 
   slink, big-eyed as children behind their shepherd's greeting. 
 
   Ambling, bears, always ambling ... mooching to ...