Poem ‘ “How to hug a Baby Bear” ’ by Edward Saugstad

Little Johnny Bottlebee
Was rosy, round, and full of glee.
So full of merry glee was he
That all the day he sang "tee-hee,
"Tee-hee, tee-hee" he sang carefree,
And no one ever disagreed.

Now, one fine day
As he was out,
Out and about
To sing and play,
He took a shortcut
Through the woods,
The honey woods
Where bears abound.
And as he danced
Along the trail
He heard a sound,
A long, sad wail,
So Johnny stopped
And cocked his head
To see if he
Could spot the spot
Where that sad cry
Was crying from.
As he stepped
Toward the sound.
A furry face,
All wet and round,
Came poking through
The bushy bush
And almost pushed
Round Johnny down!
"Why do you cry?"
Asked Johnny to
That soft, brown bear
Who cried "boo-hoo".
"I have no one
To hug", he hooed
And then he booed
And hooed again,
And down his tears
Did rain and rain.

Now, Johnny knew
That no one plays
With wild bears
Not night or day
But here he was
Now face to face,
In such a bushy,
Woodsy place,
With a bear
Who seemed to need
A playful hug
To cheer him up.
'How to hug
' A baby bear?'
Thought Johnny
Stepping just
A little nearer.
But very much
To his surprise
That bearly jumped
And in a wink,
Without a second
More to think,
Jolly Johnny
And that bear
Were rolling,
Cuddling, giggling there
Without a thought
Or tear or care.
And after hugging,
Up jumped bear
And smiling, ran
Away from there.

Johnny sat up
And laughed "tee-hee"
"Now I see
"How it should be
"If it's not safe
"To hug a bear
"I won't hug bears
"- Let bears hug me!"