Teddy BearA 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 canBy falling off the ottoman,But generally seems to lackThe energy to clamber back.Now tubbiness is just the thingWhich gets a fellow wondering;And Teddy worried lots aboutThe fact that he was rather stout.He thought: "If only I were thin!But how does anyone begin?"He thought: "It really isn't fairTo grudge one exercise and air."
For many weeks he pressed in vainHis nose against the window-pane,And envied those who walked aboutReducing 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!One night it happened that he tookA peep at an old picture-book,Wherein he came across by chanceThe 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 anythingTo read about this famous King,Nicknamed "The Handsome." There he sat,And certainly the man was fat.Nicknamed "The Handsome." Not a doubtThe man was definitely stout.Why then, a bear (for all his tub)Might yet be named "The Handsome Cub!""Might yet be named." Or did he meanThat years ago he "might have been"?For now he felt a slight misgiving:"Is Louis So and So still living?Fashions in beauty have a wayOf altering from day to day.Is 'Handsome Louis' with us yet?Unfortunately I forget."
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; butThe lattice window, loosely shut,Swung open. With one startled "Oh!"Our Teddy disappeared below.There happened to be passing byA plump man with a twinkling eye,Who, seeing Teddy in the street,Raised him politely to his feet,And murmured kindly in his earSoft 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 chanceHis 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," he smiled. "Good-day!"And turned, and went upon his way.A bear, however hard he tries,Grows tubby without exercise.Our Teddy Bear is short and fat,Which is not to be wondered at.But do you think it worries himTo know that he is far from slim?No, just the other way about -He's proud of being short and stout.Alan Alexander Milne
And just because I loved them
Poetry and Hums aren't things which you get, they're things which get you. And all you can do is go where they can find you
Before beginning a Hunt, it is wise to ask someone what you are looking for before you begin looking for it.
"I don't see much sense in that," said Rabbit. "No," said Pooh humbly, "there isn't. But there was going to be when I began it. It's just that something happened to it along the way."
happy birthday A.A. Milne & a wonderfool pooh day to every one else.
pomes ALL SIZES
P.s. If you know of any quotes from this famous wise sage, please share them on this his day.
Oh Parish, I love Winnie The Pooh! My liberal arts college in Ohio had a secret club in which members were selected based on their similiarity to a Pooh character. Every year, one Kanga, one Tiger, one Pooh, etc. was admitted. My husband was Rabbit, alas, very like him when I think about it! but I was never chosen. All that to say, I think of people in terms of Pooh all the time, and when I read A.A. Milne to my class I'm most amazed at the brilliant connections and lessons they are able to perceive. Did you know that A.A.Milne loved The Wind in The Willows by Kenneth Grahame? Have you read that one? It was one of my favorite reads for 2010.
ReplyDeletewonderful choice ,happy pooh day hope your playing pooh sticks ,all the best stu
ReplyDeleteHi Stu, Thanks. and here's a quote to relax with.
ReplyDelete“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”
HI Bellezza, shame about not being chosen, maybe you were too like tigger for them to cope?. my main connection is through my daughter especially when she was younger.
here's some wisdom from the sage himself.
•If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.