Poetry Box catchup: the November challenges and writing from the earthquake

Dear young poetry fans,

It has been a hard week for so many in New Zealand. I have loved reading all the stories of human kindness. I love the way we back each other when things get tough.

If you know classes or children that might like to write poems from the earthquake (doesn’t have to be on the earthquake) I have comfort book packs to send out. I am posting and sending as I get them.   Please write From the earthquake in the subject line.

Under this are my TWO November challenges.

Take care dear young poets.

x Paula

 

Writing from the Earthquake (please share)

I have invited children and classes to share experiences. I have already posted some poems.

You might write about the sounds, what moved, what it reminded you of. You might write about something good that happened like I did (see below). You might try writing a really really small poem or a longer poem with lots of details.

You might want to write about something else to take your mind off things like shudders and storms.

send to paulajoygreen@gmail.com Include name age year school. I will have The Letterbox Cat for some children and a comfort packs  of books for others (books are comforting too!). I will post some on NOW ON and during the following weeks.

 

 

T h  e      N o  v e m  b e r      c h a l l e n g e s

 

 

Challenge Number One: a set topic

Try writing a poem about summer.

Before you write hunt for summer things.

Use your senses to find words.

Make a chain of interesting summer words. Pick your favourites to put in the poem.

Link three summer words together. Make a pattern poem with summer words.

Hunt for a summer memory.

Imagine a summer you would love.

Paint a picture of summer with words.

Listen to every line and do a sound check.

Find some sizzling summer similes to use.

Hunt for things you to do in summer or eat.

What about the place you like to go in summer?

What is your favourite summer mood? Write a poem and hide that mood in the poem for me to guess.

 

 

Challenge Number Two: small poems

I love writing poems that use only a handful of words.

Every word has to count.

Your poem might paint a little picture.

Does it sound good?

You could try writing a couplet poem: just two lines that might hide or use tricky rhyme or no rhyme.

You could try writing a haiku: 3 lines and can be 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables (doesn’t usually rhyme).

You could try writing a limerick.

You could write a small poem that is surprising.

You could write a small poem that is funny.

You could write a small poem that is thoughtful.

You could write a small poem that makes a pattern with words.

 

 

SEND your poem to paulajoygreen@gmail.com

DEADLINE Monday November 28th

Include your name, age, year and name of school. You can include your teacher’s email if you like.

P l e a s e    p u t   ‘Summer poem’ or ‘Small poem’ in the subject line of your email.

I will pick some favourites to post on the blog and have a book for at least two readers and maybe even a book for a class.

I will do two posts on  Wednesday 30th November.

 

Serval cat poem

Just posting this for a child who wants to recite it at school tomorrow. It is from my book Flamingo Bendalingo. My partner Michael did the cool illustrations.

I wrote these poems so long ago.

I am feeling rather excited as I have nearly finished writing a first draft of poems using titles I collected from you all on my Hot Spot Poetry Tour of New Zealand a few years ago.

…. it has taken me ages!

 

I

Children write from the Earthquake: ‘Enormes Shaks!’

The other day I invited children experiencing quake shudders in New Zealand to write some poems. I have posted the invitation below in case you are in the mood to write. I will be sending out some comfort book packs.

 

Franka wrote this almost-acrostic poem the morning after the earthquake. She goes to Newtown School in Wellington and is six. Her mum wrote the version under it.

 
Enormes Shaks!

Enormes Shaks!
Ratl the wendos
Todles are shaking
Hot fies berning out
Chilgrin in bed awak
Anamls are fritid
Kitty croching low
Shated glas ol ova walitin
Intresting stores on the nwse
No! It’s to shaky.
Lowahat is in danga.
O how scry
Repd blbings ant sath!

by Franka Moleta, 14 November 2016

Enormous Shakes!
Rattle the windows
Toddlers are shaking
Hot fires burning out
Children in bed awake
Animals are frightened
Kitty crouching low
Shattered glass all over Wellington
Interesting stories on the news
No! It’s too shaky
Lower Hutt is in danger.
Oh, how scary
Ripped buildings aren’t safe.

 

 

 

 

Writing from the Earthquake

You might write about the sounds, what moved, what it reminded you of. You might write about something good that happened like I did (see below). You might try writing a really really small poem or a longer poem with lots of details.

You might want to write about something else to take your mind off things like shudders and storms.

send to paulajoygreen@gmail.com Include name age year school. I will have The Letterbox Cat for some children and a comfort packs  of books for others (books are comforting too!). I will post some on NOW ON and during the following weeks.

Children write from the Earthquake: ‘Earthquaked Animals’ and ‘Mother Nature’s Wrath’

The other day I invited children experiencing quake shudders in New Zealand to write some poems. I have posted the invitation below in case you are in the mood to write. I will be sending out some comfort book packs.

 

Gemma and Daniel sent this letter and their poems in this morning:

 

Hi Paula

Here are Daniel’s and my earthquake poems.  It has certainly been an exciting time with shakes and floods and tornadoes.  But now we are feeling a bit over it and exhausted!

Thank you for giving us the chance to write about it.  Daniel has been writing lots about the earthquake because it really helps him.

From Gemma (and Daniel)

 

 

Earthquaked Animals

 

Stranded cows surf on a new island

Sheep gone forever

A colony of seals looks for a new home

Dazed dogs lost and confused

Hens keep their eggs to themselves

Birds refuse to sing

 

And at my house

A little cat is glued to my side

Pointed ears up

Eyes glowing like headlamps

 

By Daniel L, age 8, Adventure School, Whitby

 

 

 

Mother Nature’s Wrath

 

Mother Nature

Enraged by how we treat our earth

Shakes us like a milkshake

Trying to make us understand

Then she cries

Her tears flood the broken earth

She sighs in desperation

Her breath tears trees from their roots

Her fury not finished

Until we have been put firmly in our place

 

By Gemma L, age  10, Adventure School, Whitby

 

 

 

Writing from the Earthquake

You might write about the sounds, what moved, what it reminded you of. You might write about something good that happened like I did (see below). You might try writing a really really small poem or a longer poem with lots of details.

You might want to write about something else to take your mind off things like shudders and storms.

send to paulajoygreen@gmail.com Include name age year school. I will have The Letterbox Cat for some children and a comfort packs  of books for others (books are comforting too!). I will post some on NOW ON and during the following weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You might write about the sounds, what moved, what it reminded you of. You might write about something good that happened like I did (see below). You might try writing a really really small poem or a longer poem with lots of details.

 

You might want to write about something else to take your mind off things like shudders and storms.

You just might not be in the mood. That’s ok!

 

send to paulajoygreen@gmail.com Include name age year school. I will have The Letterbox Cat for some children and a comfort packs  of books for others (books are comforting too!). I will post some on Friday 18th November and during the following weeks.

Young poets who felt the earthquake: An invitation to write poems if you are experiencing shudders and wet times (and my comfort poem for my daughter)

I’ve decided to share some comfort book packs ….

 

Sometimes when I feel really bad about something, when I am tired and I can’t seem to find the right thing to do, I like to write a poem. Writing a poem gives me great comfort.

With so many of you experiencing terrible aftershocks and terrible floods, I thought it would be really really lovely to share some poems.

 

If you want to write a poem about what you felt during the quakes I will share it.

 

You might write about the sounds, what moved, what it reminded you of. You might write about something good that happened like I did (see below). You might try writing a really really small poem or a longer poem with lots of details.

 

You might want to write about something else to take your mind off things like shudders and storms.

You just might not be in the mood. That’s ok!

 

send to paulajoygreen@gmail.com Include name age year school. I will have The Letterbox Cat for some children and a comfort packs  of books for others (books are comforting too!). I will post some on Friday 18th November and during the following weeks.

 

 

My daughter lives in Wellington and her flatmate had moved out so she was on her own and had to walk out into the dark by herself because of the tsunami warning.  I stayed awake with her all night so she could text me. A poet I know (just a little bit) offered to go and pick her up. I was so moved.

 

Earthquake

A super moon and the water

sucks back in the dark.

My daughter walks up

the hill alone.

I am waiting.

A poet offers

to get her

and take her

to the warm

but she finds

some earthquake

friends and watches

the night and waits.

 

Daniel and Gemma review Gecko’s Annual: Sometimes it feels like it was made in crazy town – but in a good way!

   

‘ Thank you for sharing about this book, we were able to get it from the library, but might not have found out about it if you hadn’t put it on your blog 🙂’

Good to hear my blog is finding readers for good books!

I invited you to review you this book and am posting these two – beautifully written with excellent doorways into the Annual.

I am sending Gemma and Daniel a book token so they can go hunting for another book treasure!

I think next year we might do more reviews of NZ books on the blog!

 

The Gecko Press Annual

Edited by Kate De Goldi and Susan Paris, Gecko Press, 2016

The sparkling golden images on the front of this brightly coloured book make you just want to open it and sneak a peak.  Inside you will find excerpts from lots of cool stories, which make you want to hunt them down to read more.

It is a cool book because it has so many different types of writing such as graphic stories, poems, shirt stories, plays, instructions, information, games and even music.  I even had a go at playing the song – it was fun!  The illustrations are really cool and a little bit wacky.

My favourite part was the hints and tips from Mrs. Mo’s Monster, because it told you what to do to improve your writing – and how to draw the monster!

What I love about this annual is that every time you pick it up, you find something new to read.  I recommend this book for anyone who likes funny and quirky things to read, probably best for 7 years and up.  Pick up a copy and have a look for yourself!

Gemma, age 10, Adventure School, Wellington

The Gecko Press Annual is a book of fun.  It is good to read because it has lots of different things in it.  There are things in it from lots of well known NZ authors and illustrators.  It has comics, crafts, stories, plays and maniac pictures. Sometimes it feels like it was made in crazy town – but in a good way!  My favourite part was the comics. People who like to pick up books again and again to look for different things would love this book.  I think it is good for ages 8 – 15.

Daniel, aged 8, Adventure School, Wellington

PS: If you live in Auckland you can go and hear Susan and Kate talk about the Annual and books for children at The National Library in Auckland.
Come along and hear Kate and Susan talk about the current children’s literature landscape and why it inspired them to make Annual

When: Thursday 17 November, 5.00–6.30pm
Where: National Library of New Zealand, 8 Stanley Street, Auckland

Please RSVP here: petra@geckopress.com

Last of year: Poetry Box November Challenge: something summery and something small (and a Gecko Annual challenge)

 

This is the last challenge for the year! Thank you so much for reading my posts, following my tips, reading the reviews, trying the challenges and sending me letters and poems.

w o n d e r f u l

 

It has been an excellent year for poetry. I especially liked all the classes that sent in work. I could see the poetry buzz and the fun you had writing and reading. The poems have been magnificent.

 

s t u p e  n d o u s

 

I have agonised on what to set for our last challenge this year. So I am going to offer you two. I will have a book for each challenge. I will do two separate posts. Remember this is NOT a competition – it is all about the joy of writing!

My top tip: Don’t send the poem the day you write it. Leave it for a few days, edit it and then send.

 

w a i t    w o n  d e r        w a n d e r

 

l o o k    at my post on the Gecko Press Annual and find  my challenge to review it  (I have a book token for someone!)  Deadline November 10th         !!!!!!!!!!!!       **********

 

l  i    s   t   e   n

 

Challenge Number One: a set topic

Try writing a poem about summer.

Before you write hunt for summer things.

Use your senses to find words.

Make a chain of interesting summer words. Pick your favourites to put in the poem.

Link three summer words together. Make a pattern poem with summer words.

Hunt for a summer memory.

Imagine a summer you would love.

Paint a picture of summer with words.

Listen to every line and do a sound check.

Find some sizzling summer similes to use.

Hunt for things you to do in summer or eat.

What about the place you like to go in summer?

What is your favourite summer mood? Write a poem and hide that mood in the poem for me to guess.

 

 

Challenge Number Two: small poems

I love writing poems that use only a handful of words.

Every word has to count.

Your poem might paint a little picture.

Does it sound good?

You could try writing a couplet poem: just two lines that might hide or use tricky rhyme or no rhyme.

You could try writing a haiku: 3 lines and can be 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables (doesn’t usually rhyme).

You could try writing a limerick.

You could write a small poem that is surprising.

You could write a small poem that is funny.

You could write a small poem that is thoughtful.

You could write a small poem that makes a pattern with words.

 

 

SEND your poem to paulajoygreen@gmail.com

DEADLINE Monday November 28th

Include your name, age, year and name of school. You can include your teacher’s email if you like.

P l e a s e    p u t   ‘Summer poem’ or ‘Small poem’ in the subject line of your email.

I will pick some favourites to post on the blog and have a book for at least two readers and maybe even a book for a class.

I will do two posts on  Wednesday 3oth November.