Teddy's Tea Party 1773

Teddy's Tea Party 1773

Many, many years ago when Teddy got his start . . . .

Bear newly stuffed with love, an English grandma's gift,
a tot's delight prescribed, the toy was sent adrift
across an ocean wide, to new and hope-filled land
where waited babe would live. For fortune and a stand,
her son had gone away. To claim a world brand new
and freedom paved the way. It's here the new tyke grew.

His destination planned, our Teddy sailed the sea,
rough winds and swells endured. On land his life would be
much smoother he supposed. The cargo on the ship,
an overdue supply, black tea had made the trip.
It docked in Boston's port, a hub for goods of trade.
It bore the king's new tax, the angered folk were staid.

To tax without a voice, the people shouted no!
No more would they obey, the king has got to go!
That night a secret raid, the tea drowned in the bay.
Poor Teddy went in too, the frenzy wasn't play.
In morning light he bobbed, was spotted by a child
who's father fished Ted out, for this our small fry smiled.

A country gets it start. A wee girl plays her part
to save that which is good, an English grandma's heart.

                                        ~~Judi Van Gorder

Notes: ▼

21 Lines
Inspired by Ridinghhood’s Newsletter Issue #9775
and my young grandson’s school project.
Verse Form: The Teddy Poem  .
The elements of the verse form, Teddy Poem are:
         1. a poem in 21 lines, made up of a prescribed single line followed by 3 sixains and a concluding couplet.
         2. metered, all lines are Alexandrine lines. (French - 12 syllables each or English - iambic hexameter, always broken into hemistichs by caesura.)
         3. rhymed, scheme x aabbcc ddeeff hhiijj hh. x being unrhymed
         4. always opens with Many, many years ago when Teddy was much younger than today..." or some variation of it and is built around the theme of the adventures of Theodore E. Bear.