The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

Future Occupation

You tell me that a girl can’t be
a pilot or a miner.
Not one girl is president,
nor rocket-ship designer.
A girl can’t lead the symphony
or dive beneath the sea.
Every job you say I can’t
is what I want to be.

About the Writer


Buffy Silverman

Buffy’s fascination with nature inspires much of her writing. Her recent book, On a Snow-Melting Day: Seeking Signs of Spring, received a star from Kirkus Reviews and is an NCTE 2021 Notable Poetry Book. A companion book, On a Gold-Blooming Day: Finding Fall Treasures, is an NCTE 2023 Notable Book in the Language Arts. She lives near a swampy lake in Michigan where she enjoys outdoor time with her dog, watching and photographing nature, and writing poetry.