ANNA ELKINS 

WILD LIFE

If you see a bear in the woods,
speak loud words so it knows
you’re not an animal,
and it will not eat you. 

If you see a man in the street
screaming curses, cross
to the other side,
and his words will not eat you.

If you see the one you love
walking away after the final
words, offer yourself silence
and it will feed you.

__________

ANNA ELKINS IS A POET AND PAINTER. SHE EARNED A BA IN ART AND ENGLISH, AN MFA IN POETRY, AND A FULBRIGHT FELLOWSHIP TO WRITE ART-INSPIRED POETRY IN GERMANY. SHE HAS WRITTEN, PAINTED, AND TAUGHT ON SIX CONTINENTS, EXHIBITING PAINTINGS AND PUBLISHING BOOKS ALONG THE WAY—INCLUDING HER LATEST POETRY COLLECTION, HOPE OF STONES, WHICH WON AN OREGON BOOK AWARD. AFTER MANY TRAVELS, ANNA NOW ENJOYS LIVING IN A SMALL TOWN ON A BIG RIVER WITH HER HUSBAND, JARED. ANNAELKINS.COM