The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

An Acquired Taste

Percival the pelican
Seemed in a funny mood
It didn't matter how his keepers tried
He just wouldn't eat his food
Unbeknownst to all of them
Percy had developed one devoted wish
That the keepers at Seaside Oceanland
Would stop feeding him on fish
He had recently scooped up a mouthful
Of the fish he ate very regularly
When he became aware that he could feel
Something swimming, there inside his belly
It might have been a mackerel
It may well have been a mullet
Either way he didn't like to think of it
Travelling down his gullet
'That's it,' Percival dramatically declared
'From now on, I am not even pescatarian'
The keepers smiled, they knew he could often be
Quite the old contrarian
"It's their tiny fishy fins!' he cried
'And their tiny fishy eyes!
'I will no longer be responsible
'For any further fish's demise'
The keepers were somewhat bemused
At the promise that they heard
But Percival was determined
And has kept completely to his word
So the next time you pay a visit
To Seaside Oceanland
Pay very close attention
To what's in the keeper's hand
Percival is fed just on carrots now
And perhaps the odd tomato
And you may even, occasionally,
See this pelican eat an entire avocado*


*And what became of the fish who were supposed
To be fed each day to him?
Well, they get to stay in the nearby ocean
To dive and play and swim
Picture by Mr Soper
Picture by Mr Soper

About the Writer


Jemima Laing

Jemima is a former solicitor and BBC journalist and has always written poetry. She is now a city councillor in Plymouth with responsibility for Culture in the city. She has several poems published and was commended in the Caterpillar Poetry Competition for her poem He'll Never Be inspired by Jeremy Deller's artwork We're Here Because We're Here.