Year After Year

• Talia Condie, Grade 6
• Poetry
• 2020

The Johnson’s garden was decrepit and old,
Its crumbled stone walls were shrouded with mould.
Under the Sycamore where no bird would sing,
sat a lonely bear on a timber porch swing.
It was a mystery how Pearl Johnson passed away,
leaving poor teddy in the garden to stay.
Threadbare and tattered he now sits alone,
abandoned, forgotten, heart heavy as stone.
As he sat there helplessly year after year,
sparrows and mice would creep over to jeer.
How he wished to be loved, how he wanted a friend,
but never, he thought this grim nightmare would end.
Mrs Johnson’s grandson came to visit one spring,
he strolled in the garden, and saw teddy staring.
The bear’s eyes were cold, and empty of affection,
Jake scooped him up, and from there was teddy’s protection.