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;       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.      

To please try hard to understand.
How sad it makes us feel;
Cause the outside pain soon goes a way,
But the inside never heals.     

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 every where.      

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...      

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

~Cindy Pike Dunning~