The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

Fruits in Thai

Saparot! Saparot!
Spiky, yellow, sweet!
Juice that dribbles down your chin
Gin thoe! Let’s eat!

Tu-rian! Tu-rian!
Smells like stinky feet!
Creamy, rich and scary-looking,
Gin thoe! Let’s eat!

Ma muang! Ma muang!
Sold on every street.
Orange, thick and sticky!
Gin thoe! Let’s eat!

Ma phraow! Ma phraow!
What a special treat!
Cool white, sweet and chewy!
Gin thoe! Let’s eat!

Tang mo! Tang mo!
Perfect in the heat!
Juicy, pink and crunchy!
Gin thoe! Let’s eat!


(pineapple, durian, mango, coconut, watermelon)

About the Writer


Gillian Spiller

Gillian is a poet and children’s author from Scotland, who has spent many years in S-E Asia and the Middle East. She is the author of three picture books, The Blue Sock (2019), Star Sailor (2020) and On The Shelf (2021) (Marshall Cavendish Ltd. (Asia)). Some of her children’s poetry is on the British Council’s LearnEnglishKids website. She also writes poetry as Gillian Craig, with poems published by New Writing Scotland, Orbis and 192 magazine among others.