WORDS OF A CHILD

Teddy,I've been bad again, my mommy told me so; I'm not quite sure what I did wrong, but I thought that you might know.  

When I woke up this morning, I knew that she was mad; cause she was crying awful hard, and yelling at my dad.  

I tried my best to be real good, and do just what she said; I cleaned my room all by myself, I even made my bed.  

But I spilled milk on my good shirt, when she yelled at me to hurry; and I guess she didn't hear me, when I told her I was sorry.  

Cause she hit me awful hard, you see, and called me funny names; and told me I was really bad, and I should be ashamed!  

When I said,"I love you mommy," I guess she didn't understand; cause she yelled at me to shut my mouth, or I'd get smacked again.

So I came up here to talk to you, please tell me what to do; cause I really love my mommy, and I know she loves me,too.  

And I don't think my mommy means, to hit me quite so hard; I guess sometimes, grown ups forget, how really big they are!  

So Teddy, I wish you were real, and you weren't just a bear; then you could help me find a way, to tell mommies everywhere,  

"Please try hard to understand, how sad it makes us feel; cause the outside pain soon goes away, but the inside never heals!"  

And if we could make them listen, maybe then they'd understand; so other children just like me, wouldn't have to hurt again.  

But for now, I guess I'll hold you tight, and pretend the pain's not there; I know you'd never hurt me, So Goodnight, Teddy Bear!!