Classic Poem

This is the tale of Ephraim,
Ephraim the Grizzly Bear,
He of the curving talons,
He of the silvered hair.
Lord of the snow-topped ranges,
Lord of the vales below;
This is the tale of Ephraim
Told in the Long Ago.

Hot was the sun of August,
Cool was the ferny glade;
Ephraim, the monster Grizzly,
Lay in the cedar shade.
Proud of his bulk and vastness,
Proud that his limbs were strong,
Ephraim the big and burly
Bragged in a rumbling song:

“Great is the might of Ephraim!
Broad are his heavy paws,
Huge are his brawny shoulders,
Strong are his crunching jaws!
Feared by the Wolf and Panther,
Feared by the Race of Man,
Biggest of all is Ephraim,
Chief of the Grizzly Clan!”

There, in the glow of summer,
Poised on his vibrant wings,
Darted the tiny Hummer,
Swiftest of feathered things,
Trilling in elfin laughter
Down from the crystal sky,
“Boast of your lordship, Ephraim,
When you have learned to fly!”

Loud on the pond the Beaver
Smote with a slapping tail:
“Big though you be, old Ephraim,
What does your bulk avail?
When,” said the craftsman Beaver,
“When did you dream a dream?
When did you build a wigwam?
When did you dam a stream?”

Briskly the bright-eyed Chipmunk
Chirped from the aspen limb:
“Big are the paws of Ephraim,
Small are the wits of him.
Dull as a barren mountain,
How does he spend his time?
Where has he digged a storehouse?
When did he learn to climb?”

Perched with a green pine tassel
Back of his coat of gray,
Chattered the bold Camp-robber,
Chided the roving Jay:
“Swift is the stroke of Ephraim,
Sharp are his claws—and still,
What is the good of Ephraim?
What can he do but kill?”

Full to his height, the Grizzly,
Rearing to make his mark,
Growled as he drove his talons
Gashing the cedar bark,
“There is the Scar of Ephraim
High on the living tree!
Who has the reach of Ephraim?
Who is as big as he?”

Such is the tale of Ephraim
Told in the tents of Men.
He that will boast of Bigness,
What can he boast of, then?
Such is the tale of Ephraim
Told where the Klamath glides.
They that will boast of Bigness,
Naught can they boast besides!