The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

Thank You, Dear Rubber

Listen to Jacqueline Shirtliff reading her poem
Dear Rubber, my friend, I am writing to you
To thank you so much for all that you do.
I’m grateful for how you erase my mistakes -
I’m often surprised at how many I make!
The back-to-front numbers I’m not sure of yet,
The full stops and capitals I sometimes forget.
When I’ve missed out whole words or mixed up my letters
You’re always there to make everything better.

Dearest Rubber, I am also writing to you
To ask if there’s anything more you can do.
When I’ve hurt someone badly, I’m lazy or rude,
I’ve fought with my mum or been in a cross mood.
Those days I’ve been grumpy and mean or uncaring,
Used nasty words or not felt like sharing.
There are plenty more things I feel awful about.
Please, could you rub all these mistakes out?

With best wishes,
Your hopeful friend.
xxx

About the Writer


Jacqueline Shirtliff

Jacqueline is a poet and primary school teacher on the Isle of Man. One of her favourite things is helping children to love poetry and reading and encouraging them to be writers themselves. She lives in a rose-covered cottage near the sea and enjoys gardening, crochet, and playing the tuba and harp, but not all at the same time! You can read some of her other poems in The Caterpillar, Tyger Tyger, Northern Gravy, The Toy, and Little Thoughts Press.