The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

The Flabbergast

Beware! Beware!
It’s nearly here.
The ghastly ghost,
The ghostly gast,
The flipperty, flopperty Flabbergast.

Stay in your class
As it oozes past.
The ghastly ghost,
The ghostly gast,
The bendy, boneless,
Flipperty, flopperty Flabbergast.

Why has it come?
You’re wondering.
The ghastly ghost,
The ghostly gast,
The slippery, drippery,
Bendy, boneless,
Flipperty, flopperty Flabbergast.

It loves to play
On Dress Up Day.
The ghastly ghost,
The ghostly gast,
The cowled, cavorting,
Slippery, drippery,
Bendy, boneless,
Flipperty, flopperty Flabbergast.

It makes the grade
For the school parade.
The ghastly ghost,
The ghostly gast,
The dressed-up, cheered-up,
Cowled, cavorting,
Slippery, drippery,
Bendy, boneless,
Flipperty, flopperty Flabbergast.

It wins the prize.
It laughs and cries.
The ghastly ghost,
The ghostly gast,
The flipperty, flopperty,
Bendy, boneless,
Slippery, drippery,
Cowled, cavorting,
Dressed-up, cheered-up,
Properly flabbergasted Flabbergast.

About the Writer


Bill Nagelkerke

Bill is a children’s author and translator. His poems have appeared in a number of magazines and anthologies. One was included in 'The Children’s Calendar' published by the International Youth Library in Munich. He lives in Aotearoa New Zealand.