Robert Southey

“ The wee Bear on a small, wee bed
⁠Did nightly close his eyes.
One morn their porridge being made ⁠And pour'd into each pot,
To taste it they were all afraid
⁠It seem'd so boiling hot.
"A burnt child dreads the fire"—A Bear
⁠Doth dread it just as much,
As these Bears proved, in taking care
⁠Their porridge not to touch,
For they most cautious had become ⁠From having once before
Their mouths severely burnt with some,
⁠Which made them dance and roar!
They, therefore, let their breakfast be
⁠Till it should cooler grow—
And meantime for a walk the three
⁠Into the wood did go. ”

“ Three Bears, once on a time, did dwell
⁠Snug in a house together,
Which was their own, and suited well
⁠By keeping out the weather.
'Twas seated in a shady wood, ⁠In which they daily walk'd,
And afterwards, as in the mood,
⁠They smok'd and read, or talk'd.
One of them was a great huge Bear,
⁠And one of a middle size,
The other a little, small, wee Bear,
⁠Withsmall red twinkling eyes.
These Bears, each had a porridge-pot, ⁠From which they used to feed;
The great huge Bear's own porridge-pot
⁠Was very large indeed. ”

“ The porridge-pots, and that within
⁠They held food of such kind.
Now has she waited till home came ⁠The bears, most likely they
To breakfast might have asked the Dame,
⁠And begg'd of her to stay.
But she was impudent and bold,
⁠And cared for none a pin;
So quickly of a spoon laid hold
⁠The porridge to dip in.
And first out of the great Bear's Pot ⁠The porridge she did taste,
Which proving to be very hot
⁠She spat it out in haste. ”