The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

Shoelaced

When I can’t tie my light-up shoes
my insides burn like lava ooze.

I loop the bunny ears and then
they fall apart. I try again.

I try to make the bunny hole.
My fingers aren’t in my control.

My heart pounds hammers in my ears.
I scrunch my face to keep back tears.

So, maybe I’ll just leave them loose,
take a break and have some juice.

About the Writer


Christiana Doucette

Christiana spends mornings in her garden, because like poetry, flowers grow best with space to breathe. She has judged poetry for San Diego Writer’s Festival 2022-2024. Her work has been set to music and performed on NPR. She is the 2024 Kay Yoder Scholarship for American History recipient. Her full-length novel works are represented by Leslie Zampetti of Open Book Literary. You can find recent/forthcoming poetry in County Lines, Little Thoughts Press, and Boats Against the Current.