The text is a dark play on the character Winnie the Pooh's mild expression of annoyance 'Bother,' juxtaposed with the unexpected and severe action of torching a forest. It does not rely on a play on words or similar-sounding words but rather on the contrast between the character's typical gentle behavior and the violent action described.
" Bother , " said Pooh , as he torched the forest . . . . .