The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

The Heron

Listen to Jonathan read his poem ...
I have to say it troubles me
to see a heron in a tree;
to watch it balance on a stick
at heights that make me feel quite sick.

They have those legs that don’t look strong;
that seem too thin and over-long.
And if a breeze shook up that tree,
a sticky end I could foresee.

Now if I was that gangly bird,
with legs that look to me absurd,
I wouldn’t stand and risk my neck
so very high above the deck.

I think the cautious route I’d take,
reduce the risk, make no mistake.
Yes, I’d adopt a safe technique;
I’d sit and cling on with my beak.

About the Writer


Jonathan Humble

Jonathan lives in Cumbria. His work has been published online and in print in a number of magazines and anthologies. His first collection of poetry, My Camel's Name Is Brian, was published by TMB Books in 2015. His second poetry book, Fledge came out in 2020 through Maytree Press. His poems for children have been shortlisted and highly commended in the Caterpillar and Yorkmix poetry competitions and he is the editor of The Dirigible Balloon. His poems Masterclass and This Work is Done were chosen as the Milk House Poem of the Year at the end of 2022 and 2023.