The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

Essence of Fireweed

Aftermath of wildfires -
Buried under the burnt soil,
You rise from the ashes
Pink petalled beauty.
A glimmer of hope
In the smoky darkness.

Your soft, red stems
Relieve our hunger
With warm soups and stews
For the cold winter.

A remedy for coughs,
Herbal tea from your leaves
Soothes our sore throats,
Helping us to breathe.

Nature will prevail
Despite destruction and strife,
To restore all that was lost
And bring us back to life.

About the Writer


Josie De Falco

Josie grew up in a large Italian/English family near the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. Childhood memories of the countryside is her main source of inspiration. Josie is an advocate for encouraging children to explore their imagination through nature. Her poems have been published in Little Thoughts Press, Parakeet Magazine, The Toy, Picture Perfect Poetry and the Dirigible Balloon’s upcoming anthology Sky Surfing: Adventures in a Poetry Balloon. Josie is often seen taking photos of the wildlife on her allotment.