My name is Edward T D Bear,
I’m fifty-five today.
The coat and hat of plaid I wear
is faded now to grey.
My old fawn body’s not the same
as what it used to be.
My matted, knotty, furry frame
is not so cute to see.
When I was young I lived so grand,
in shops with simple toys.
I was the toy most in demand,
enchanting girls and boys.
As time moved on, society
demanded better choice.
They brought in bears, not quite like me,
some even had a voice.
Fine dancing dolls and walking dogs,
then Barbie with her Ken,
athletic figures, leaping frogs -
my good life ended then.
My home is now an antique shop.
The owner doesn’t care
that people never, ever stop
to check out this old bear.
I dream that maybe one fine day
they’ll take away my pain,
and give me to some kids to play,
so I can live again.
Comments
Ewan | June 8, 2009 - 18:28
This seems a really good poem for older children (like me, haha :-)): I did not stumble once on reading it aloud. Nice tidy rhyme and rhythm.
You might want to think about losing either 'fur' or 'furry' in stanza 2 as the repetition jars a little.
The 'never, ever' in stanza 6 makes the scansion fit without ever seeming forced. Brava.
A good one.
Ewan
mariaduffy | June 9, 2009 - 07:30
Thanks Ewan. I think you're right about that 'fur' and 'furry'. I'll see what else might fit. Glad you enjoyed it. Maria
threeleafshamrock | June 9, 2009 - 10:03
Great stuff Maria and congrats on the well deserved cherry. I love this kind of piece; looking back I suppose to when kids were more easily pleased and imagination played a bigger part of our play. Lovely and in some ways haunting.
Chris X
Ewan | June 9, 2009 - 10:07
Try fawn.
mariaduffy | June 9, 2009 - 14:10
Thanks Chris. I appreciate your kind words. I was so delighted to get the cherry for this one. Glad you liked it. Maria x
mariaduffy | June 9, 2009 - 14:11
Thanks for that suggestion, Ewan. I've put it in and think it works well. So thanks for taking the time. Maria x
jennifer | June 9, 2009 - 14:50
Excellent writing, really enjoyed it, flows so well!!
J x
mariaduffy | June 9, 2009 - 16:10
Thanks Jennifer. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. maria x