The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

Pineapple Does Not Belong on Pizza

Listen to Helen read her poem ...
I'd gobble a pork chop in smooth apple sauce
Sliced melon with ham is a real tour de force
But pineapple does not belong on pizza.

My school makes a mean chicken coconut curry
I'd wolf down a cheese and pear tart in a hurry
But pineapple does not belong on pizza.

My dad loves a sandwich with raisins and cheese
My mum always dollops fruit chutney on peas
But pineapple does not belong on pizza.

I might let you sprinkle my salad with grapes
Grilled peaches on toast make fantastic canapes (sorry, canapés)
But pineapple does not belong on pizza.

So bearing in mind my strong feelings on fruit
I'll say, one more time, to quell any dispute:
Pineapple DOES NOT belong on pizza.

About the Writer


Helen Dineen

Helen is an educational writer, originally from Edinburgh and now based in Southampton. Her first short poetry book 'The Incredible Whale and other poems' was published by Collins Big Cat in 2021. She has also had poems published by The Caterpillar and Bloomsbury. Helen previously worked in a primary school, and some of her best memories are of practising poems with the children, for them to perform in assembly.