The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

A Wobbly Success Story

Listen to Val reading her poem ...
Dad says: ‘this is how you do it,
Just push, pedal, gli-i-de
.’
But it’s not that easy
learning to ride

a two wheeled wobbly monster,
with a mind of its own.
Push, pedal, wobble, wobble,
crash down on the stone.

Come on,’ Dad says, ‘try again,
just believe you can
.’
‘I’m trying Dad, but falling off
wasn’t in my plan.’

‘Hold on to me Dad, Da-a-d,
please don’t let me go.’
Okay, I’m holding the saddle,
Now push, pedal, GO!


‘I can’t do it, I can’t do it,
D-A-A-D, where are you…?
Oh, look at me, I’m doing it,
I’m riding my bike – WAHOO!’

About the Writer


Val Harris

Val lives near Farnham with a horse and husband and several grandchildren living nearby, who like to mark her poems out of ten. She used to write for adults, but decided she much preferred writing poetry for children, after her debut poem was published online with The Dirigible Balloon in 2021. Since then, several others have appeared on various balloon flights, and she has had poems published in The Caterpillar Magazine, Paperbound Magazine, The Toy Press and Little Thoughts Press. You can find her as Val Poet on Instagram and @dragontripper Val Poet on Twitter.