The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

Christmas Cactus

This year we can’t afford a tree
The food bank lacks this stock for free.
Mum says, “Never mind; we’ll make do.
Let’s banish glum and feeling blue.”

So our cactus gets a twinkle,
Sleek silver sleigh bells to tinkle,
Shiny tinsel to shimmy and sway
To paint us smiles throughout the day.

Beaming baubles and fairy lights
Brighten our hearts on winter nights.
And to keep cosy his hairy mop,
I pop a cute Santa hat on top.

About the Writer


Linda Middleton

Linda is a lifelong lover of writing and began sharing her passion for rhythm and rhyme last year. Her work can be found online and in magazines, including The Caterpillar and Pure in Heart Stories. She enjoys supporting children with their learning and teaching RE in a primary school in a leafy corner of England. In her spare time when she is not writing, she can be found wood wandering, beach strolling and ice cream tasting.