The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

From the Bus

We saw a hippopotamus
while we were sitting on the bus.
He didn’t seem to notice us but we saw him.

We saw a pouchy pelican
eating from a garbage can
It found a piece of marzipan but spat it out.

We saw a humpy dromedary
outside the apothecary.
Spitting is unsanitary but he’s rude

We saw a red orangutan
glugging from a soda can.
It tried to drive the postman’s van but had no key.

We saw a beady jewelled iguana
nibbling on a ripe banana.
He finished one and then began a happy dance.

We saw a mighty manatee
while we were going home for tea
So bulbous in reality but swam quite well.

We saw a huge iguanodon
tramping over Grandad’s lawn.
Grandad chased him, now he’s gone, but so’s the grass.

The things we see and think and dream
are more than simply what they seem.
So let your wild thoughts roam and gleam and come to life.

About the Writer


Gillian Spiller

Gillian Spiller is a Scottish poet and children’s author, who has spent many years living and teaching in S-E Asia, E Asia and the Middle East. She is the author of four picture books, The Blue Sock (2019), Star Sailor (2020), On The Shelf (2021) and A Shell for Cleo (2022) by Marshall Cavendish Ltd. (Asia). Her poetry for children is available on the British Council’s Learn English Kids website, as well as here on The Dirigible Balloon.