Teddy's Tea Party 1773

[Tinker]

                                                               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

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.

[tonyv]

Expertly crafted lines in a demanding form, Judi. I love how you've told a historical event by incorporating fictious characters. It gives it a human feel to which the reader can relate.

Tony

[badger11]

Hi Tink

          Liked how you brought to centre stage the individual giving of love in the context of the historical greed. Ordinary humanity persisting in conflict.

best

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