Big Bear With Big Tummy

Big bear with big tummy

loved berries

as red as cherries.

But berries were

high up on the tree

and couldn’t be had for free.

Bear (with a swagger)

could climb a ladder .

He looked around

but no ladder he found.

Bear thought (rather arrogantly),

“I should give tree a kick,

fallen berries I can then pick.”

But tree was tall and thick,

 it was wise not to kick.

Bear asked (rather rudely)

the monkey,

who was little spunky,

 for berries

as red as cherries.

Monkey seemed not to hear.

“Must be hard in the ear,”

grumbled the bear.

But pat replied the monkey,

 who was a little spunky,

“Sir, I am no flunkey.”

Near the tree

a giraffe was wandering

and red berries

was he munching.

Bear bowed (rather stiffly)

and pointed to berries

as read as cherries.

Giraffe kept munching,

 a bit slowly.

But when he spoke

he spoke very clearly,

“I love the berries

as red as cherries.

When I have my fill

I may eat still.

You may await your turn,

 but I am afraid

it may never come.”

Bear fretted

and requested

(rather crudely)

 the squirrel,

the hornbill,

 the cockatoo and

the crow.

But even one berry

 they didn’t pluck

 and throw.

 Bear was now

a bit teary

and a bit bleary,

for he loved berries

as red as cherries.

The old tortoise

named James Joice

was nearby.

He saw the bear

 in tears

and said,

 “You know you are

a bit arrogant,

 and a bit rude,

and a bit stiff,

 and a bit crude.

You know

you are one

who has friends

 but none.

You know life

would be fun

if you had friends

or at least one.

You know even

 the strongest one

 needs friends,

 if not many

but surely one.”

My friends,

this is how

the story would end

if you are one

without a friend.

© i b arora