Just for fun remembering

It occurred to me that I want to write about fun, joyous things as well as serious stuff. And I have found myself lately remembering things quite vividly from my whole life, from my childhood on; hence the reason for my first post of the A.A. Milne poem. (I will be posting more of them...how marvelous they are!) I enjoy recounting fond memories and I hope these will be a nice break from my other more serious blogs.

So thank you, in advance, for reading, and I would love to read any comments or thoughts or feelings that you want to share.

Lee

Favorite poems

This poem, "Teddy Bear," by A.A. Milne, was one of my favorites when I was a child. It is one of a collection of poems in a book called When We Were Very Young.  My parents read it to my two brothers and me before we learned to read. Besides the sheer imagination and beauty of the verse and rhyme, the author's use of correct grammar and sophisticated vocabulary were evident to me even then, though I couldn't articulate my sense for those details. In particular,  I like the use of the word adiposity. What an interesting and erudite word to describe, simply, being a bit overweight. This poem is also endearing in that it conveys the message that some slight girth is nothing to be ashamed of. However, the poem is touching both to the slim and stout alike!

"Teddy Bear" 

(a.k.a. Winnie the Pooh)

A bear however hard he tries

Grows tubby without exercise

Our Teddy Bear is short and fat

Which is not to be wondered at;

He gets what exercise he can

By falling off the ottoman,

But generally seems to lack

The energy to clamber back.

Now tubbiness is just thing

That gets a fellow wondering;

And Teddy worried lots about

The fact that he was rather stout.

He thought: "If only I were thin!

But how does anyone begin?"

He thought: "It really isn't fair

To grudge me exercise and air."

For many weeks he pressed in vain

His nose against the window-pane,

And envied those who walked about

Reducing their unwanted stout.

None of the people he could see

"Is quite (he said) as fat as me!"

Then, with a still more moving sigh,

"I mean," he said, "as fat as I!"

Now Teddy as was only right

Slept in the ottoman at night,

And with him crowded in as well

More animals than I can tell;

Not only these but books and things,

Such as a kind relation brings --

Old tales of "Once upon a time,"

And history retold in rhyme.

One night it happened that he took

A peep at an old picture-book,

Wherein he came upon by chance

The picture of a King of France

(A stoutish man) and, down below,

These words: King Louis So and So,

Nicknamed 'The Handsome'" There he sat,

And (think of it!) the man was fat!

Our bear rejoiced like anything

To read about this famous king,

Nicknamed "The Handsome." There he sat

And certainly the man was fat.

Nicknamed "The Handsome." Not a doubt.

The man was definitely stout.

Why then a bear, (for all his tub)

Might yet be named, "The Handsome Cub!"

Next morning (nose to window-pane)

The doubt occurred to him again

One question hammered in his head:

"Is he alive or is he dead?"

Thus nose to pane he pondered; but

The lattice window loosely shut,

Swung open. With one startled "Oh!"

Our Teddy disappeared below.

There happened to be passing by

A plump man with a twinkling eye

Who seeing Teddy in the street

Raised him politely to his feet.

And murmured kindly in his ear

Soft words of comfort and of cheer:

"Well, well!" "Allow me!" "Not at all."

"Tut, tut! A very nasty fall."

Our Teddy answered not a word;

It's doubtful if he even heard.

Our bear could only look and look:

The stout man in the picture book!

That "handsome king" -- could this be he

This man of adiposity?

"Impossible," he thought. "But still,

No harm in asking. Yes I will!"

"Are you," he said, "by any chance,

His majesty the King of France?"

The other answered, "I am that."

Bowed stiffly, and removed his hat.

Then said, "Excuse me," with an air,

"But is it Mr. Edward Bear?"

And Teddy, bending very low,

Replied politely, "Even so!" 

They stood beneath the window there

The King and Mr. Edward Bear,

And handsome, if a trifle fat,

Talked carelessly of this and that...

Then said His Majesty, "Well, well.

I must get on," and rang the bell.

"Your bear, I think," and smiled. "Good day!"

And turned, and went upon his way.

A bear, however hard he tries, 

Grows tubby without exercise.

Our bear is short and fat,

Which is not to be wondered at.

But do you think it worries him

To know that he is far from slim?

No, just the other way about -- 

He's proud of being short and stout.