wrestling bears

you wrestle bears for a living.
but it's not fair.
they are fat and full
of fish and steak,
declawed. in fact,
they like you. at night
in their cages you'll
sit next to them
and scratch their bellies.
you'll read to them as if they
were children, and could
understand every word
you are saying.
they are old bears,
they have no growl or malice
in them. they pretend
and you pretend, sometimes
they'll even let you win.
you could do worse than
friends like them.