The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

Litterpicking

Listen to Rhiannon read her poem ...
We walk slowly, with purpose,
Scanning the ground,
Each day, lost pieces of life
Wait to be found.

We pick up flyaway fragments,
Car crunched cans, scraps of card,
Cast away bottles
That mark our streets like fresh scars.

We pick up tickets and packets,
Lost letters, tossed toys,
Deserted detritus
That all slowly destroys.

We walk slowly, with purpose,
Scanning the ground,
Each day, lost pieces of life
Wait to be found.

We pick up notes to tomorrow
That we allow her to read
We pick up hope for our world
With our dynamic deed.

We pick up the chance to recycle
To rethink, to reuse,
We pick up hearts with our litter,
We pick up a future we choose.

About the Writer


Rhiannon Oliver

Rhiannon is an actress, poet, workshop facilitator and playgroup leader based in Cardiff. She started writing for children in 2021 and has been published in The Caterpillar, Tyger Tyger, The Toy, The Dirigible Balloon, Northern Gravy, Paperbound, Little Thoughts Press, Parakeet, Buzgaga, and Launchpad (Australia). She has publications forthcoming in multiple anthologies. She has also written and created performance videos for The Big Welsh Rhyme Time (Book Trust Cymru) and her poetry has appeared on TV (Only Boys Aloud Christmas Concert, S4C). She is part of Literature Wales' Representing Wales 2023 scheme and is currently developing her first collection for children which explores Mental Health and Well-being.