The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

Emily’s Toy Box

Mum carries my toy box down from the attic,
memories spilling out.
I make two piles,
one for my little sister, Emily,
one for me.
The xylophone goes in mine,
and the building blocks,
the shape sorter too,
with the star stuck in the circle hole.
Mum holds up Dolly One Leg.
Mine.
Mum sighs,
but Dolly’s been through a lot,
and Emily is rough.
I put the shakers in her pile,
and the push along duck,
even though he reminds me of walking to nursery.
It might be fun to see Emily play with him,
she has tiny flappy feet too.
I swap the building blocks to her pile,
and once I’ve hidden Dolly One Leg,
I show Emily her new toy box,
and her whole face smiles.

About the Writer


Hazel Knox

Hazel is a children’s poet, writer and occupational therapist based in Edinburgh. She was a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Awardee in 2021 and her poems have been published in The Toy, Little Thoughts Press and Paddler Press. Her chapter book ‘The Night Pixie’ is out in 2024 with HB Publishing House. You can find her on X @hazel_knox / Instagram @hazelknox_writer / hazelknox.com