The Panda Bear of Kandahar

I am the Panda Bear of Kandahar,
I wear a band a' hair, a kind a' scar
of white on black as night on back and front,
my bamboo fare is quite a candy bar,
I am the Panda Bear of Kandahar.

I am the Panda Bear of Kandahar,
I roam the open air and land afar
to hunt the handy hare and dare confront
the lair of lamb and ram to stand and spar,
I am the Panda Bear of Kandahar.

I am the Panda Bear of Kandahar,
I mount the stair of mountain near and far
to count the hunter's fount of elephant
that stir the mountaineer and movie star,
I am the Panda Bear of Kandahar.

I am the Panda Bear of Kandahar,
I wander land Iran to Zanzibar,
though I meander as commander grunt,
I care for everywhere from sand to star,
I am the Panda Bear of Kandahar.

I am the Panda Bear of Kandahar,
I scare the Afrikander and Babar,
a teddy bear bizarre, a banty runt,
I bear the brand of Disneyland bazaar,
beware my foes from czar to Escobar,
I am the Panda Bear of Kandahar.

I am the Panda Bear of Kandahar,
a fan of jam, pajamas, racing car,
a brand new superstar with scimitar
from Azkaban to Pan to cookie jar,
we play the hunting bear and sparring stunt,
and snuggle on my hand or handlebar,
for I'm . . . the Panda Bear of Kandahar.

No, I'm the Panda Bear of Kandahar,
I stroke his hair and scan my repertoire,
I bear the brunt of wear so I'll be blunt,
we snare a tale of bear, the door ajar,
a prayer to ban the boogeyman afar
to spare him yarns of scary kinds there are,
then share a three-bear hug, our standard par,
a band a' panda bear from Kandahar.

                        -- by Pete Voelz       1998

(Dedicated to my children and grandchildren.
My second favorite poem I’ve written.)