Eight balloons no one was buyin’
All broke loose one afternoon.
Eight balloons with strings a-flyin’,
Free to do what they wanted to.
One flew up to touch the sun – POP!
One thought highways might be fun – POP!
One took a nap in a cactus pile – POP!
One stayed to play with a careless child – POP!
One tried to taste some bacon fryin’ – POP!
One fell in love with a porcupine – POP!
One looked close in a crocodile’s mouth – POP!
One sat around ’til his air ran out – WHOOSH!
Eight balloons no one was buyin’ –
They broke loose and away they flew,
Free to float and free to fly
And free to pop where they wanted to.

—By Shel Silverstein