Tristan Robert Lange

Supplanted Stuffing

There he sat,

Little and larkish

Fluffy and full,

Forever a friendly,

Furry Teddy

Bear.

i remember this, right?

His smile softly

Suggested I love him

Back.

I did.

yes, i remember this—

clearly—

like it was yesterday,

we shared that starting gaze,

given in gracous

gratitude.

Teddy—my precious bear—

Followed me everywhere

From my childhood trips

To baseball stadiums

To sitting in the dugout

At my softball games,

Little league laborers

Of love.

yes, i do so remember this time when

Teddy, at my sorority sisters’ slumber,

slipped into an ice cold

cooler,

shrinking smaller

but sturdy in solidarity

for his true

love.

Teddy—my darling dear bear—

Just loved my children.

He became theirs too.

They played with him

Purposefully—

Proudly—

He was their

Papa bear.

Until he wasn’t.

yes, i see this now as surely

as i see him

so sadly sitting

darkly

in a concealed closet

forgotten

forever

ago.

Teddy—my poor, poor Teddy—

Sullenly sits and stares

At me.

His humble and hurt eyes

Evoking these

Moving memories,

Pitifully piercing into

My predominantly

Pernicious and

Pathetically selfish soul.

yes, i do remember Teddy.

sigh.

but tomorrow

will never come

if i keep wasting such time.

Teddy—my—what’s your name

Again?

Time to once again
Turn out the lights. Goodnight.

>footsteps<

>kl-klick<

>ker-klunk<

>distant voices of cheer and laughter<

© 2025 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.