Mort Künstler, American
“Cocaine Bear” Fighting With His Dealer, 1970
Gouache on board
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Mort Künstler, American
“Cocaine Bear” Fighting With His Dealer, 1970
Gouache on board
Info, or perhaps links that point to more info, about this artist can be found here, perhaps in addition to what’s in his Wikipedia page.
/// It’s a lie to imply that bear’s “cokie.”
Far from “hopped-up,” he’s clumsy and poky.
The man made him upset—
tossed a lit cigarette.
You don’t do things like that before Smokey.
/// Marlb’ro Man was afraid he’d be mauled,
clawed or bitten as he was there sprawled.
But he didn’t get clobbered;
on his face, Smokey slobbered.
Smoker screamed, soiled his shorts, and then bawled.
/// Now, the rifleman kneeling back there
knows he shot him, but soon he’ll despair.
He just made Smokey crazed
with a bullet that grazed
him. The moral here: “Don’t poke the bear!”
/// Supine cigarette smoker thought that
Smokey should have been wearing his hat.
“If I’d known he’s a Ranger,
saving forests from danger,
then, instead of this fight, we could chat.”
/// Though it seems Smokey’s out of control,
fire safety’s the bear’s only goal.
First he made the man find
that lit butt left behind,
then he taught him to Stop, Drop, and Roll.
/// Some folks advocate using big rakes
to clear leaves, (as though that’s all it takes).
Smokey said, and he meant,
only you can prevent
forest fires caused by careless mistakes.
/// These two hunters attempted to track
a bear, but he, with stealth, doubled back.
Künstler chose what to show
in this grisly tableau
to appear like a Grizzly Attack.
/// That large bear isn’t normally mean,
but the red-jacket man came between
an ursine sleepy grump
and the greasy-spoon dump
that’s supplies the beast’s morning caffeine.
> or < (a political allegory:)
/// Unprovoked, the Bear made his attack.
Thought he’d gobble them up as a snack.
But they’re brave; won’t give in;
they won’t let the Bear win.
If we get them the guns they’ll fight back.
/// Some who hate spending say, “It can’t be
that their fight there is useful to me.”
What to say to that rare
group who root for the Bear?
“If you crane your neck left you will see!”