The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

What I really want to be

I don’t want to imagine I’m bold and I’m brave,
I don’t want to stand up or stand out.
Don’t want to be group leader, captain or pro,
I don’t want to be cool or way-out.

I don’t want to explore, I don’t want to be first
to discover a species or star.
Don’t want to be famous or wild and outrageous,
don’t want to go for it, or far.

I don’t want to impress, I don’t dream of success,
I don’t care if ambition is key.
I’m not aiming for glory, I’ll write my own story.
I really just want to be me.

About the Writer


Rhona Stephens

Rhona Stephens grew up in Northern Ireland and now lives in Scotland. She loves words and music, living in the country and visiting the coast, especially the north coast of Ireland. You can find her poems for children in Tyger Tyger, The Toy, Parakeet, Dirigible Balloon, PaperBound and Charles Causley Trust.