The Brave Bear and the Brown-Haired Boy

When bombs rained down a neighborhood In Shiah, south Beirut one night A brown haired boy tight clutched his toy, A cuddly brown-furred bear, in fright. And sobbing through the roaring din, He whispered to his cuddly friend: "Oh, Teddy, Teddy, hold me tight, And stay until the bombings end." The cuddly bear then softly spoke: "My little friend, be not afraid. Just hold my hand, and never cry, We'll go to where all toys are made." "We'll ride a fast, green, chugging train That goes to Cave of Childhood Joy, Just hold on tight and walk with me." He told the brown-haired little boy. And toddling off, they left in haste To board the waiting silent train, That left the station right on time When all the other kids were in. It softly chugged through tunnel bright, Then reached the Cave of Childhood Joy. All kinds of good things, there they saw, And everywhere a brand new toy! There, too, were dancing ice cream cones, Brown trees with leaves of chocolate, A bluebird singing on a branch: "You're welcome all to choose and eat." They did, and drank sweet soda pop From spring they saw there flowing by; They played on swings with silver chains, While ponies neighed sweet lullaby. Some drank fresh milk from gleaming cups, And others picked sweet berries pink, While others ate cream puffs so soft, All fears just vanished in a blink. The bear then told his little friend: "I'll go to guard the tunnel door, To stop the ants from getting in." He left, and couldn't tell him more. He hurried out that joyous place, To bravely take his sentry post, But bombs rained down the tunnel door The entrance got, with rubble, lost. And when rescuers came in haste, To search through rubble for the boy, They didn't find a trace of him, But just his brave and cuddly toy.