I Love Smokey Bear

Some say the spirit lingers

And its impact never ends
Provided that it’s cherished
In the memory of friends

The first thing that the maintenance of memories is good for
We keep alive the principles the dear departed stood for

He set a fine example

For our children everywhere
He showed how great disasters
Are prevented with great care

How what we count as precious

Are a set of basic rules
And much can be accomplished
With a set of simple tools

But now I fear his legacy

Is lost and left behind
The evidence of influence
Is thin and hard to find

And those who should be loyal
To his work and his advices
Seem to have abandoned him
In this the present crisis

In fact they seem to take
Almost opposite perspectives
And claim, when they are challenged
“We’re just following directives.”
 
From a group whose mascot
Preached a basic self-reliance
Confronted with vindictiveness
I hoped for some defiance

If he could see his Ranger Ricks

Behaving in this way
I just can’t help but wondering
What would Smokey Say?

I guess it’s up to us
To frame his legacy in stars
Recalling that he said
Responsibility is ours

So when you hear the spin
That comes from followers and liars
Remember
ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT
Government  overreach
Massive regulation
Constitutional ignorance
Obamacare
and
FOREST FIRES