A bear sat upon a mountaintop,
And there he contemplated life.
A thousand nights he thought,
A thousand days he slept,
Until he had a thought
For each star in the sky.
Himself he considered a star too,
As old and wise and special.

One evening a young squirrel
Bounded up the mountain.
With a leap and a chatter,
She said to the bear:
"When I was born you sat here;
Now you still do.
What have you done in between?"

"I have thought," the bear replied,
"Until I have a thought and a story
For every star in the sky.
I have lived a thousand moments
From here on this mountain."

"I have lived a thousand moments too,"
Piped the squirrel.

"Nonsense," the bear snorted.
"I was here a thousand moments
Before your coming."

"But how many did you live?"
The squirrel jumped to and fro
With formless jubilation.

"Quiet, squirrel!"
Thundered the now-annoyed bear.

She froze, then peeped,
Ever-so-quietly,
"You were here,
a thousand moments before me.
Is this moment one-thousand-and-one?"

The bear chuckled now.  "Yes
Dear squirrel, now I have lived
A thousand moments and one more."

"That's where you're wrong."

"DID YOU COME HERE
JUST TO PROVE ME WRONG?"
Again thundered the bear.
He rose and swung his terrible paws
Through the clear air.

"No no no!" screamed the squirrel,
Now frantic.
"I have lived a thousand moments
and you have lived a thousand moments!
I came to see what yours were,
Because they're so much longer."

"NO, you are wrong."
The bear came down on all fours
And put his face in front of hers,
Teeth staring like soulless pearls.
"A moment does not change.
I have lived more, not longer
Moments than you."

"Ah," muttered the squirrel,
Creeping backward before
His awesome teeth;
Then she fled outright.


When safely out of sight,
The squirrel stopped, composed herself.
"Ah," she repeated disdainfully.
"I went to you seeking answers,
But you have proven to me:"

Age does not bring wisdom.