The Tale of Sir Bumble Bear
This is just a bit of Sunday fun. I found a photo of Pickles and her beloved Bumble Bear while searching through my phone. He has been with her since she chose him in a shop at six months old. He was all alone, the last teddy bear on the shelf and she refused to leave him there without a fight. Every time I put him back she screamed like she was losing something precious. Or maybe I should say “someone”, because as soon as that little bear came home he got a personality of his own.
He sleeps with her every night, and despite others coming and going from the “Bedtime Gang”, Bumble is one of the few that remains strong in her affections. He is a much loved teddy, and although his little body has been hugged into floppiness and his fur is not as fluffy as it once was, he is still very much as adored as he was when she found him in 2014.
I’m not sure if you have seen the illustration of the teddy bear protecting his owner from the monster under the bed, but it’s one that I’ve always loved and was part of the inspiration for this poem. It’s a special relationship between a child and their favourite toy. They are often a child’s first comfort outside of their parents, their confidante, their protector to keep them safe in the dark, the keepers of countless memories.
Pickles enjoyed this little ode to her bond with Bumble, and I hope you do too.
The Tale of Sir Bumble Bear
Eyes are sharp, ears are pricked,
Catching every whisper.
Fur on edge, stuffing tense,
He hopes that “it” has missed her
On it’s nightly prowl of children’s rooms.
Bumble listens closer
For the beast who wants to feast
To sate it’s endless hunger.
The bedroom’s dark, the nightlight dimmed,
Only shadows in his sight,
But brave Sir Bumble Bear is bold.
His lady’s valiant knight.
His charge, she sleeps, her breathing soft,
And dreams the night away.
So unaware, her heroic ted
Has a monster he must slay.
A sudden movement, a tiny creak,
Sir Bumble flicks his head,
Towards the noise. Is that a hiss?
“It’s here”, he thinks with dread.
No sound he makes, he draws his sword,
And prepares himself to fight.
He watches as the beast looms close,
Rising to full height.
His eyes are firm, he stares it down,
The beast growls low and deep.
It’s hungry now, it wants to eat
The girl still fast asleep.
It lunges left, he dodges right,
Escaping gnashing jaws
Filled with teeth, just as sharp
As the blade held in his paws.
A steady breath, a mighty leap,
Sir Bumble lands upon it’s head.
He drives his sword straight through it’s nose,
The beast rears back in dread.
It never thought this little bear,
Would have such nerves of steel.
It assumed the sleeping girl
Would be an easy meal.
Another slash, a second and third,
The beast retreats in fear.
Slinking back into the darkness,
It’ll find no repast here.
Sir Bumble sighs and sheaths his sword,
He takes one final look.
The room is peaceful, there are no more
Monsters hiding in each nook.
He snuggles down beside his charge,
This bear has earned his rest.
She wraps her arm around and
Tugs him closer to her chest.
His eyes drift closed, he falls asleep
His fluffy heart is full.
Protecting children from the beasts
Is a teddy bear’s true call.
Never has he failed her,
Never shall she fear.
For never was there a girl more loved
Than that of brave Sir Bumble Bear.