The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

Colin Coleus

My name is Colin Coleus,
a leafy type of chap.
Some say, “Ooh, aren’t you folious?”
That’s ‘leafy’. Yes, I flap.

I’m also known by other names.
Flame nettle’s one of these.
My leaves, some reckon, look like flames!
I once scared several bees.

I’m not too fussy in my ways,
just like a daily drink,
a little sunshine through the days
to keep me green and pink.

Pinch out my tips, and I’ll become
a great big bush for you.
I’ll show you’ve quite the gardening thumb
and folks will cheer, “Woo-hoo!”

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!