Suresha, Ron J. (editor). “Hibernation and Other Poems by Bear Bards”, Bear Bones Books, 2014.
Bear Bards and Poetry
Amos Lassen
…
Editor Ron Suresha says that this anthology was three years in the making and I am sure that is not because bears don’t write poetry but because he wanted the very best and it sure looks like he got it.
I fully believe that you can judge a people or a community but the literature it produces and while it may seem incongruous that bears who represent big burly men would write poetry, I feel that this book is very important for them and for the rest of us to be able to see what they can do. … without a doubt bears can and should write poetry and all of us—bears, non-bears, gays and straight should read it. …
The collection contains 100 poems most of which are written in free verse and every issue of life is contained here from the “changing standards of masculinity, male romance and lust, maturing men’s body issues, and what it means to live and love within the worldwide gay male bear community”. … What the poems share in common is the bear experience. What I love is the fun I had reading it. I also loved that I got a new picture of some of the authors I already knew. …
If you have ever wondered what a “bear poem” is, you will get your answer right here. … There is a bear experience, which is shared among hundreds of thousands of bear-identified men. …
Thank you, Mr Lassen!
