Some of my favourite small poems

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