The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

Epic Explorer

Listen to Julie ...
I’ve got my eye on all these countries
but where does an explorer go?
There’s Mexico, China, France and Japan,
I need a place to be daring and bold.

My mind is surfing the oceans and skies
I’m racing with birds through the clouds,
to Norway, to Egypt, Italy, Peru,
so many wild thrills to be found.

I could climb to the top of a giant pyramid
or parachute from the Eiffel Tower,
ride the rapids on the Amazon River
you really would feel empowered.

There’ll be animals I’ve only ever found in books
different squawks and growls to hear,
terrifying eyes and grisly teeth
I might even meet a wild bear!

Rivers, beaches, or swing in the jungle,
maybe a place where the fierce beasts hide,
lurk in the grasslands or down in a cave,
oh, where in the world should I fly?

Finger on the map, drawing a line
a journey to decide where I’ll roam,
eyes closed, don’t peek, finger walks, finger sticks.
Yikes! I’ve landed here back at home!

About the Writer


Julie Stevens

Julie Stevens writes poems for both adults and children. She covers many themes, but often engages with the problems of disability. Her children’s poems have been published in many places including Paper Lanterns, Balloons Lit Journal, Parakeet Magazine, The Toy, Tyger Tyger, The Dirigible Balloon, Brian Moses’ blog and in anthologies. She has three published adult pamphlets: Step into the Dark (2023) and Balancing Act (2021) both with The Hedgehog Poetry Press and Quicksand (Dreich, 2020). www.jumpingjulespoetry.com