The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

Song of the Dodos

Listen to Fliss ...
Take a trip back in time, and you’ll meet us do-dos!
We were birds who could run but not fly,
for our bodies were big yet our wings were so-sos,
and Doo-doo! … Doo-doo! came our cry.

We all lived on Mauritius, a wonderful isle
in the Indian Ocean so clear.
And we wandered the woods and the coasts, with a smile
as we sang – we were full of good cheer.

But one day, humans came to explore our dear home,
bringing cats and dogs, pigs and macaques.
They destroyed many places where we loved to roam –
and they hunted and killed us for snacks.

There are many fine birds on Mauritius today –
the pink pigeon, the parakeet too.
Just our spirits remain, in the trees and sea-spray,
calling softly, Doo-doo! … Doo-doo!

About the Writer


Felicity Teague

Felicity Teague (Fliss for short) has a very serious job in publishing and enjoys writing poems during her playtime. Her poetry has appeared in a number of journals, including The HyperTexts, Snakeskin and The Ekphrastic Review. From 2014 to 2016, she was Poet-in-Residence of Happenstance Border Morris, a Morris dancing group in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire. She also enjoys art, birdwatching, films, music and photography, and she loves guinea pigs!