Me and My Teddy Bear
By AJ
I have a teddy bear in my cell.
I don’t feel lonely.
He makes me feel like a boy.
I hug and kiss my soft plush teddy bear before I go to sleep.
I’m playful with him.
Sometimes I think he acknowledges me.
He warms my heart.
I offer my teddy bear Honey Buns,
Even though I know I will not get an answer.
When I’m away from my cell, I miss him.
I read touching letters from my family to Uriah, my teddy bear.
One day, I wept from sorrow in my heart
And noticed tears coming down from my teddy bear’s eyes.
25 Comments
Leave a Comment
The poets featured here are currently incarcerated, and many of them are in federal prisons far from home. Your feedback is a valuable source of motivation and connection to the outside community. Post your comments, feedback, and encouragement in the space below the poem. Messages will be passed on directly to the author. Comments may not appear immediately on the site, as our team processes them to mail to the poets.
Wow, what a powerful image for your time in incarceration. I love how Uriah is personified here and the tears he sheds with you. Peace.
Your poem is touching. I can understand the need to feel something to tether you to your family and to hold during times of pain and loneliness. I can feel your tears and the teddy bear’s tears, too. Peace!
Your word show how much this teddy bear means to you. I’m glad you found something that offers you comfort. Your last line was poetic and surprising…”and I noticed tears coming down from my teddy bear’s eyes.” Keep writing. You have much to share.
Hello AJ, I want to thank you for sharing this. This poem is true and speaks to the heart. I hope that the teddy bear is always there for you and that you always remember that it is there. I hope you continue to use this outlet to express yourself. Stay well!
This poem is very touching. The idea that your teddy bear does not have the ability to acknowledge you back that is consistent throughout the poem until the end, when it sheds a tear, has a very powerful affect on the reader. The concept that I understood from this poem, finding a source of comfort and emotional support, speaks volumes to how difficult this might be while incarcerated. Comforting and connecting with your inner child when needed is an important part of healing and feeling relief from emotions that sometimes feel too big to deal with.
I am sitting in bed with my teddy rn. and I know that you might not have meant this as a literal teddy bear however, He is a part of me that makes places not so scary. like my dorm room when I am alone, he makes me feel like I am safe. I see him as an extension of my home and my comfort.
This poem is beautiful! What I like about is that for me I took the teddy bear as a symbol of childhood. When times were okay and life was easier and we had all the freedom in the world. What makes me think that is how when you leave your cell you miss the teddy. It’s like when you walked into adulthood you instantly miss being young again. Overall, this poem was beautiful and paints such a detailed picture for me. Keep writing it was beautiful!
I find that we can often fill the void in our hearts with the objects around us, and we can use stuffed animals to replace some the things we have lost. Their usage can bring us warmth and comfort similar to that of a pet. And, I too have memories of hugging my stuffed friends and seeing them share in my grief in the past. I think that your poem is really relatable and is an enjoyable read. Thank you for your poem, and I hope to read more from you in the future.
I think it is really sweet that you are able to find happiness through something as simple as your teddy bear. Keep the strong connection with that bear and he will be there when you need him the most. Keep pushing forward.
I have a teddy bear in my room, and no matter how sad I am he has always been there for me because he is my first teddy bear.
I own a teddy bear too and sometimes I feel like my teddy bear is the only thing keeping me safe when I’m scared. I don’t get when people say “your too young to be having stuffed animals” because stuffed animals arrested the best!!
When I am with my stuffed animal I feel a sense of safety. Like she is a person I can talk to and tell feelings to with no needed answer.
Your poem is heartfelt. I’m happy that you’ve found solace in something. This poem touches the heart and is real. I wish the teddy bear would always be there for you and that you would always be aware of its presence.
Hi AJ,
I like how you personified the teddy bear in your poem. Even though the teddy bear is an inanimate object, it helps to evoke a sense of companionship and comfort. In times of sadness, it is helpful to connect with something we can use as a medium to channel love or to feel safe, even if it is just a teddy bear. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us and for using such vivid imagery to paint such a vivid picture for us to see.
This was wonderfully put. I have an image of a teddy bear in my head and I love that you have a companion. It’s very important to not feel alone.
This is such a powerful poem because it’s something that everyone can relate to to some degree. Most people growing up had that teddy bear we all clutched and took everywhere. Even if it wasn’t a teddy, maybe it was a different stuffed animal or a blankie of some sorts. This poem really depicts the relationship a child has with their favorite belonging and the emotional bond they develop with inanimate objects.
They say that as we grow older, we aim to heal our inner child. The teddy bear seems to do that for you. Bringing companionship, and an ear to listen to your troubles.
I love that you sleep with a stuffed animal every night. Sleeping with them can be so comforting, especially when you’re away from home. I’m glad you have it there to comfort you.
To AJ- There is so much emotion in your short poem. The poem shows that even though you’re in such a lonely place and during a terrible time you still find something that is there for you. Even if it’s something as simple as a teddy bear having something that makes you feel better makes the difference. Though you won’t get an answer back he is still there by your side if needed, he’s there to see the hardships and loneliness you’re going through. I hope your teddy bear helps you express these emotions and keeps you warm in the cold place you’re in. Amazing poem, keep sharing!
Wow, this is very touching and relatable. I love the relationship you’ve developed with Uriah.
This poem explores the theme of companionship and the power of imagination to create a sense of comfort and connection. Your relationship with your teddy bear is tender and genuine, and the final lines evoke a sense of empathy and emotional depth. Great writing!
Your poem is a wonderful representation of the comfort and companionship that a teddy bear can bring. The use of personification with the teddy bear acknowledging the speaker and shedding tears adds a lot of emotional depth to the poem.
This is such an adorable poem that captures the innocence of childhood and the bond formed with a stuffed animal. All children share this experience, and the poem does a wonderful job highlighting the emotional connection and the blurred lines between knowing it is just a stuffed animal but regarding the toy as a trusted companion.
I like how your poem really shows how much you care about your teddy bear and shows a great transition and connection to being young and turning older!
I love the personification and diction you use when referring to your teddy bear! I am do glad to know that even though you are going through a rough time you have a special object that can help to quench your negative feelings. You are such a talented writer, great job I really enjoyed reading this poem!