FICTION IN A FLASH CHALLENGE #26 @pursoot #Writing Community #IARTG #ASMSG

karenringalls

Award-winning author, Suzanne Burke, presents photo prompts encouraging and inviting anyone to write a short story, one-liner, or poem inspired by the photo. Here is my Tanka poem inspired by this charming photo.

  THE MAGICAL TEDDY BEAR
  
 HOW SOON WILL HE COME?
 WHEN WILL I SEE HIM AGAIN?
 HE LEFT IN A RUSH
 ON A STRETCHER WITH DOCTORS
 SURROUNDING HIS FRAIL BODY.
  
 HE CRIED OUT MY NAME
 BUT THEY SAID "NO BEARS ALLOWED"
 I CALLED OUT HIS NAME
 IN MY MAGICAL METHOD
 THAT ONLY HE AND I KNEW.
  
 SITTING BY THE FIRE
 EACH NIGHT I WAITED FOR HIM
 PRAYING FOR HEALING
 OF MY DEAR FRIEND WHO I LOVE
 AND IN RETURN LOVES ME TOO.
  
 AT LAST HE RETURNS
 WRAPPING HIS ARMS AROUND ME
 HIS BODY IS THIN
 BUT OUR LOVE WILL HELP IT HEAL
 THE SAME AS IT HAS EACH YEAR.
  
 I’M NOT JUST A BEAR
 MY STUFFING IS MAGICAL
 I CAN HEAR AND SPEAK
 ONLY WITH MY YOUNG OWNER
 WHO I WILL LOVE FOREVER.

Like many children, I had a Teddy bear which I played with, dragged around, and shared my secrets. He was cuddly, never judging, and always there. This poem is in honor of my Teddy and all the other Teddy bears who have brought joy and comfort to children around the world.

I encourage you to go to Suzanne Burke’s website at https://sooozburkeauthor.wordpress.com/ and discover her books, blogs, and fiction in a flash challenges. You won’t be disappointed.

15 thoughts on “FICTION IN A FLASH CHALLENGE #26 @pursoot #Writing Community #IARTG #ASMSG”

  3. Beautiful, Karen… For me it was “Ellie” the stuffed elephant. I slept with her until my freshman year in high school, when she disappeared, but beautiful memories live on… ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. This is such a moving Tanka, Karen. Thank you for contributing. My daughter had her own companion in the form of Ernie of Sesame Street fame. She dragged him everywhere with her, and now my young grandson has him as his roommate. It brings happy tears to see them together. I’ve just had the pleasure of sharing your Contribution. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. Ahh, I loved your poem, Karen. My granddaughter talks to her stuffed animals as though they are real, and she firmly believes they whisper back to her. ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thank you for sharing, Gwen. I “know” they whisper back to your granddaughter. My son had so many stuffed animals that they filled his room. His favorite was a very large 4-5 foot Teddy bear he won at Busch Gardens. Then there was the challenge of getting “it” on the airplane…this was about 45 years ago. The same bear is now in my grandson’s room.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a reply to Anonymous Cancel reply