The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

A Birthday Sonnet

I started life as fifteen furry shapes,
a big black nose, two eyes, and lots of thread!
I was a kit, with needle, sticky tapes,
and bright white foam. My maker made my head
to start me off. She sewed my eyes and nose.
I saw her smile and smelled the summer air!
My smile came next, then tummy, arms–legs–toes,
the foam to fill me up. Nothing to wear,
except my birthday suit. She hugged me tight
and laughed and danced around our little room!
She showed me things. A chess set and a kite,
the roses in the garden, all in bloom.
And then she said my name would be Sir K.,
the K for Koala. I replied: “G’day!”

About the Writer


Felicity Teague

Felicity Teague (Fliss for short) has a very serious job in publishing and enjoys writing poems during her playtime. Her poetry has appeared in a number of journals, including The HyperTexts, Snakeskin and The Ekphrastic Review. From 2014 to 2016, she was Poet-in-Residence of Happenstance Border Morris, a Morris dancing group in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire. She also enjoys art, birdwatching, films, music and photography, and she loves guinea pigs!