The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

Spells Count!

Take one child’s laugh freely given
To thaw a frozen heart
Take two proud carer tears
To bring encouragement
Take three wishes on a birthday
To keep your hopes alive
Take four corners of the earth
For a sense of adventure
Take five stars from the sky
See them sparkle in a loved one’s eyes
Take six days of labour
To work and mend
Take seven days of holiday
To relax and rest
Take eight hours of sleep
To keep your mind and body refreshed
Take nine songs to sing
To enable your soul’s flight
Take ten minutes to remember
All that’s good and right
If you follow this spell every day
You may find happiness along your way.

About the Writer


Fiona Halliday

Fiona has enjoyed and written poetry all her life. She has fond memories of family members sharing poems with her from a very early age. Fiona has taught in primary schools, across the age range, for the last twenty years and specialises in literacy. She loves language, learning and laughter. She also likes alliteration! When she isn’t teaching, reading or writing, Fiona enjoys playing the flute, spending time with her family and drinking copious amounts of tea!