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 every where. 

 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. 

 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... 

 Cindy Pike Dunning