The Balloon-Bump Parade

At half-past cake
and a quarter to spoon,
there bounced through the doorway
a party balloon.

Then two came tumbling,
then three, then ten—
they bounced off the ceiling
and came back again.

A red one said, “Popple!”
A blue one said, “Bing!”
A yellow one twirled
on a curly-wound string.

They bonked on the bookshelf.
They booped on the chair.
They zigged through the kitchen
and zoomed through the air.

One little green one
was shy as could be.
It hid by the presents
and peeked out to see.

The others went bumping
and whomping around,
with flibbley-floobers
and soft rubber sounds.

Then someone cried, “Music!”
Another cried, “Cake!”
Then all of the balloons
gave a wiggle and shake.

The shy little green one
rose up with a grin
and floated right into
the party’s bright din.

So up went the ribbons,
and up went the cheer,
and up went the room
till the sky seemed near.

For big ones and small ones
and shy ones can fly—
when a party gives everyone
room in the sky.