National Poetry Day - "Blessed by the Bear"

On a recent work trip to London, I ended up waiting over an hour at Paddington Station for my designated train. As I waited I watched a stream of people visit the statue of Paddington Bear. I wrote the first draft of this poem while on the train home. As it's National Poetry Day today, I thought I'd share it.

Blessed by the Bear

Make haste to pause on platform one

His prints of paws guide pilgrims on

To selfies take with his saintly stare

Not hard, but warm; a gentle bear

See them come and seek to share

A sacred moment with the beloved bear

Take blessing from his worn-bright nose

And commemorate with smiling pose

Count them! Young, old, sullen, smiling

Teens too cool, then shyly styling

Greying couples grin for each other

And children clamber to shine for mother

And the bronze bear sees, and blesses, all

Safe travels, travellers, great and small

Bid adieu and quicken, journey on

Granted grace by Paddington

Previous poems:

We Are the Generation: X (published for National Poetry Day 2025)

Pethau Hen (published January 2024)

Older poems and stories