SOME BALLOONS GROW ON TREES For Betsy Richards
Reading edition
Some balloons grow on trees, On rubber trees, indeed. You plant old rubber-boots for seed. Some balloons grow on trees. If you want them red, You pour red ink into the boots, There in the balloon bed, And blue ink if you want them blue. But if you desire them green, Just let it pass. They will turn green to match the grass. Some balloons grow on trees. And if you do not spray them soon With water-pots of hellebore You will not have One ripe balloon. Mosquitoes will bite them in the night Explode them like a thunder-storm And give the town a fright.
Some balloons grow on trees. If they grow too fast And are not gathered every day The infants stand aghast To see them tear up by the roots The trees on which they grew And scatter dirt on the front walk And disappear from view Into the blue.