I first met him when I was a little girl,
And he of fur, soft and brown;
Soon he was my friend and world,
Always a smile to greet my frown.

He played with me, in my silly games,
With ne'er a question or a doubt;
Never angry nor called me names,
Even when I would scream and shout.

Tantrums and tears, with silence he bore,
Heard my wild dreams, with a smile;
Together, possibilities we did explore,
As we stayed in bed and travelled miles.

Stuffed bears cannot speak, they say,
Yet, he was sweet, my dearest friend;
Soft and small, with me every day,
Despite childhood coming to an end.

I still have him, my teddy bear,
A childhood friend, now quite scruffy,
Still, at times, though now quite rare,
If I talk, I think he would listen to me.