Today’s poem

SOMEONE TO LOVE ME

I’m a yellow furry teddy A little worse for wear. My owner told her mum today ‘I’ve finished with this bear. Santa Claus is coming soon, He’ll bring new toys for me. I’ll put him on the garden wall For everyone to see. Someone else might like him now, Although he’s rather worn.’ So here I sit in the pouring rain, Bedraggled and forlorn. An old man passing saw me there As quiet as a mouse. ‘You can’t stay out in this,’ he said, And took me to his house. His wife was nice and dried me off And then brushed up my fur. A ribbon round my neck she tied, How very kind they were. I feel refreshed and cleaner now Quite smart with my red bow. ‘What will happen next?’ I ask. ‘I wonder where I’ll go?’ The folks next door were very poor, No jobs were to be had. The couple had a fouryear old He knew that they were sad. They said that Father Christmas Might not arrive this year. They’d tried their best to decorate And bring some festive cheer. Christmas Eve came all too soon, The child was put to bed. He hoped that Santa Claus would come: ‘Don’t forget me, please,’ he said. The parents were both tired and cold When a ring came on the bell. The old man and his wife stood there. ‘We’ve come to wish you well. We haven’t much ourselves,’ they said, ‘But this is for the lad. Just a little something small.’ ‘Oh, thank you,’ said his dad. The boy woke up next day at six, It wasn’t very light. But there was a bag upon the bed — Santa had come in the night. He pulled out sweets and chocolate And then a funny hat. I heard him sigh and I knew why — He’d hoped for more than that. He reached right in and suddenly Discovered me inside. ‘I’ve always wanted a teddy,’ he said. His voice was full of pride. He hugged me, kissed me, held me close, No longer was he poor. For Santa had remembered him, And I was loved once more. Muriel Summers, Swansea.