Love Poem: Tenderheart Bear
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Written by: Betty Johnson

Tenderheart Bear

His teacher gave an assignment
On his first day of school,
She told the kids to write a book
On things they thought were cool.
She said they could draw pictures
Like in all the books they read,
But she said to be creative
And this is what his said:

"My baby rabbit is one thing that I love,
and my house, that I drew this picture of.
I love my family and a sunny summer day
and red would be the only color if I had my way."
 "I love my teacher, she said I could go far
and I like Skeletor and my cool racecar,
but my best things, just in case you care,
are great big shiny red balloons and Tenderheart Bear."

Fifteen years down the road, 
When he was all grown up
I was cleaning out my closet
And putting things in the truck
I came across a cardboard box 
I opened it to take a look
And there it was with my letters and cards... 
Joeys book.

Carefully I opened it 
And began to take a look
At all the things he'd wrote 
And colored in his special book.
Though he'd been only five years old 
He'd had the sense to know
I'd need something to take me back 
To those precious years with my Joe.

Now my Joey's grown and gone 
With his own family.
He's stationed in the Army 
Far across the sea.
I wish for him all happiness 
And love because it's rare,
But I'll always keep for him 
His book and Tenderheart Bear.