The Grocery Man And The Bear

He was weary of all of his usual joys;      His books and his blocks made him tired,     And so did his games and mechanical toys,      And the songs he had always admired;     So I told him a story, a story so new      It had never been heard anywhere;     A tale disconnected, unlikely, untrue,      Called The Grocery Man and the Bear.     I didn't think much of the story despite      The fact 'twas a child of my brain.     And I never dreamt, when I told it that night,      That I'd have to tell it again;     I never imagined 'twould make such a hit      With the audience of one that was there     That for hours at a time he would quietly sit      Through The Grocery Man and the Bear.     To all other stories, this one is preferred;      It's the season's best seller by far,     And out at our house it's as frequently heard      As cuss-words in Mexico are.     When choo-choos and horses and picture books fail,      He'll remain, quite content, in his chair,     While I tell o'er and o'er the incredible tale      Of The Grocery Man and the Bear.