Wow! What a lot of small poems arrived in my email box from all over New Zealand. Thank you! I could tell you all loved playing with words for this challenge.
Remember … poetry is all about P L A Y
and there are no set R U L E S!
It was so hard picking a few to post because I loved them all. So inventive, so musical, so imaginative, so thoughtful, so image-strong, so mysterious, so moody, so chewy, so GOOD to read.
I have tried to pick a bundle of poems that are all different!
I will send a book to Olevia and Lily Jean at Richmond Road School and Bhumi at Marshall Laing Primary School. Remember this is a challenge to spark your writing not a competition – and I just share a few books each time because I love sharing books.
You might like to look back at my Gecko post and hunt for the two secret challenges. I have two Gecko books to give away (thank you Gecko Press!). I WON’T BE READING YOUR POEMS UNTIL MAY, so if I were you, I’d wait to send them and read them again. Listen to your poem after a week or so and see what needs changing.
Tomorrow I will post the April/May challenge.
S o m e s m a l l p o e m s:
The Moon
A single
light shines
in the
pitch black,
night sky
Emily, age 12, Year 8, Selwyn House School
Koru
Slowly growing and uncurling,
An artwork in itself
Finn, Ilam Primary School Year 6 Age 10
My Snuggly
My snuggly
Has as many
Holes as a minefield
And red strings
Hanging from the corners
Like balloon strings.
William Age: 9 years Year 5, St Andrews College, Christchurch
Family Tree
Your
family is
like a tree.
Our branches
grow in
different
directions, our
roots remain
as one.
Lily-Jean age 10 Samoan unit at Richmond Rd School
Fire
As hot as burning ash.
As wild as an erupting volcano.
The smell is like burning rubber.
Silvano Samoan unit at Richmond Rd School
The horseshoe
Rusted into darkness
Slowly fading, flaking off piece by piece
metal dying.
Jenna Year 7, St Andrew’s College
Sunset
One day I
was staring at
a river, then
the Sun shone
into my eyes.
Tilly, age 8, Selwyn House School, Christchurch
Just Wondering…
I wonder
If on the tundra
You need a bandana
Like on the savannah?
I wonder
If a tundra
Is a savannah
In disguise?
Gemma L Age 11 Year 7, Adventure School
Moa
A
bird
with
no
wings
that
cannot
fly.
A
bird
with
no
tail
that
stands
so
high.
Jada Samoan unit at Richmond Rd School
Moonlight
The moon looks at his river reflection. He frowns.
By Ruby Age: 8 years, Selwyn House School, Christchurch
Snorkeling Bay
Under the sea
I watch a hoki
polish a paua shell
until it shines like stained glass.
Joshua 12yrs Medbury School, Christchurch
My Cat Moose
A ragdoll named Moose,
asleep on the couch.
Outside it’s a bright sunny day,
rolling this way then that,
a mixture of white and
grey.
Sofia N, Year 6, Age 10, Westmere School
The Jumping Door
A door jumped up the hill
It ripped over a rock
That sent it
Into the air.
Brian H, 6 years, Ilam School
Summer
Light
breeze. Palm
trees. Waves roll
in and
out.
Rita P, Year 6, Age 10, LS7 Westmere School
The Rain
The rain
pattered loudly
on the
roof all
night. Now
we awake
to the
sun shining
bright.
Emily Cox, Selwyn House School, Age: 12 Year: 8
The arrival of night
Wave of night
Light so slight
Stars’ bright rays
Not to stay
Day comes again
Night’s at its end
Frank Age: 10 Ilam School
The Fall
Shoe.
Shoe lace.
Shoe lace race.
Trip, fall,
Chase.
Hugo M, Year 6, Age 10, Westmere School
Mountain Sunrise
The golden, pink sunrise,
creeps up behind the mountain,
making the snow, gleam pink.
Kate Gourley Age: 11 Year: 8, Selwyn House School
Winter
Slippers.
Bone-chilling dark.
Snow, skiing, scary.
Casserole, duvet,
sleep.
Stan U, Year 6, age 10, Westmere School
Light
As the
shining light
creeps through
the leaves,
I wake.
Honor age 9, Selwyn House School
Jasmine, Age 10, Gladstone School
Daniel Age 8, Year 4, Adventure School
By Bhumi, age 9, Year 5, Marshall Laing Primary School
Whizzing
Whizzing,
over a bump
Soaring,
through the air
Landing,
into
the pond
SPLASH!!!
Paris T, 12, year 8, Carmel College.
Autumn
Leaves.
Falling leaves.
Gold falling leaves.
Crispy leaves…
Autumn.
Indiko K, Year 6, Age 10, Westmere School
The Tree
Minty green leaves,
Flutter in the wind,
Falling onto the grass.
Sina, age 9, Fendalton Open Air
My Pillow
Fluffy and soft
to sleep
drifting off
By Aimee B Age 9, Year 5, Stanmore Bay School
Horses
They trot and plot
in vigorous ways
they run and eat
all through the day.
By Maddison W Age 9, Year 5, Stanmore Bay School
Ballet
twisting and dancing
in some ways they’re prancing.
By Ella K, Age 9, Year 5, Stanmore Bay School
Shooting Star
Woosh!
flying over the
sparkling sea
Then it was gone.
By Xanthee A Age 9, Year 5, Stanmore Bay School
The Shoes
The lace shoes shine bright where they stand
The emerald buttons beautiful as gold
Hopefully they’ll be found.
By Emily, age 8, St Andrews School
Tip toe
Howling wind
Dancing light beams
Trembling hands
Tip
Toe
Tip
Toe
Eerie silence disguising the night…
By Michaella, Carmel College
Sprinting
Sprinting, splashing,
Through the mud,
Slipping, landing,
Through the mud,
Rustling, crunchy,
Crispy leaves,
Drinking water,
From the streams.
Phyllis Age:12 Year:8 Carmel College
The Campfire
Fire flickered
Children shone with joy
Voices danced
Along with the night
The campfire would forever
Be in their hearts
Alex W Age: 12 Year Level: Year 8, Carmel College
Feelings
May sadness be less
and happiness be more,
but nothing but your dreams
sail through your door.
Olevia age 9 Samoan Unit Richmond Road School
Poetry Box 