The Bear, The Fire, And The Snow

‘I live in fear of the snow,’ said the bear.
‘Whenever it’s here, be sure I’ll be there.
Oh, the pain and the cold,
when one’s bearish and old.
I live in fear of the snow.’

‘I live in fear of the fire,’ said the snow.
‘Whenever it comes then it’s time I must go.
with its yellow lick flames
leaping higher and higher,
I live in fear of the fire.’

‘I live in fear of the river,’ said the fire.
‘It can drown all my flames anytime it desires,
and the thought of the wet
makes me sputter and shiver.
I live in fear of the river.’

‘I live in fear of the bear,’ said the river.
‘It can lap me right up, don’t you know?’
While a mile away
you can hear the bear say,
‘I live in fear of the snow.’