The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

The Cow Who Jumped Over the Moon

This is it! (mooed the cow)
I’ll leave the earth behind.
One small hoof for heifers,
one giant leap for cow-kind.

I’ve hurdled over haystacks,
I’ve cleared the highest dairy,
I’ve backflipped every barn,
but it never felt this scary.

Will I land my solo moonshot?
Will they love my lunar ballet?
Will I gleam like a shiny spoon
dipping in the Milky Way?

Mooove over self-doubt.
I’ve trained for this vault.
And if I don’t make it,
well, that’s gravity’s fault.

Three, two, one—she jumped,
launching like a spacecraft.
The farmer cheered, “She did it!”
His little dog just laughed.

About the Writer


Stefan Karlsson

Stefan is a poet and artist based in Portland, Oregon. He received his MFA in Poetry from the University of California-Irvine. His poems (for children) have appeared in The Dirigible Balloon, Paddler Press, Little Thoughts Press, and Tyger Tyger Magazine. His paper marbling artwork can be found on Instagram @nautiluspaper, and his poetry for kids can be found on Twitter @stefkidlit and on YouTube @StefanKidsPoetry.