Making patterns in poems is such fun. Poets have been doing it for centuries. Nowadays making patterns is as much about play is as it is about tight rules.
This was a challenge you loved! I got a MOUNTAIN of emails. So it has been extra hard choosing just a few poems to post.
Remember I love reading your poems; and the most important thing is you love writing.
You might like to try writing a poem with one of the titles from my new book Groovy Fish and other poems. My July challenge!
You might like to come and meet me at my Groovy Fish holiday events in Auckland and Wellington.
I am sending a copy of Groovy Fish to Ella at Oranga School.
Some favourite pattern poems
The dog, the cat, the cheese and the moon
The dog chases the cat
The cat chases the mouse
The mouse chases the cheese
And the cheese chases the moon.
The moon chases the sunlight
Reflecting shattering glass.
The dog dreams of the cat
The cat dreams of the mouse
The mouse dreams of the cheese
The cheese is on the moon.
Georgie, Selwyn House School Christchurch
Wind
Wind whistles through the gaps
moonlight filters through the thatching
a straining, brittle beam snaps
wind whistles through the gaps
a thin dry sapling cracks, bends and snaps
a nightingale calling its mate, singing
wind whistles through the gaps
moonlight filters through the thatching
Rain W, 11 years old, Year 7, Selwyn House School
The ocean
The ocean is shining like the big bright sun
The waves are crashing into each other
Some of the people are going for a run
The ocean is shining like the big bright sun
I see some people eating a Spanish bun
I go to see the cave with my mother
The ocean is shining like the big bright sun
The waves are crashing into each other
Ella C, 9 years old, Year 5 from Oranga School
Morning Butterfly
The butterfly is woken by birds
The dew lands gently on her wings
The butterfly is woken by birds
The dew sparkles in the sun
The butterfly is woken by birds
The dew makes her look like she is made of crystal
Charlotte K, age 8, year 3, Ilam School
We sing
The cat sings along the beach
The dog sings down the road
The cat sings her milk down
The dog sings by the fire
I sing to the cold mountains
I sing to the shimmering moon
I sing to the starry night
I sing to the sun that is ever so bright
The cat sings to the mouse
The dog sings under the tree
The cat sings by the ocean
The dog sings in his bed
Anneliese S, Age: 10 Selwyn House School
Two birds in a tree
Two birds in a tree
singing a song
singing a song
Two birds in a tree
getting along
getting along
two birds in tree
singing their bracket
two birds in a tree
making a racket!
Lily M. and Lily A. ages 10-11 Paekakariki School
This Is An Arrow
T
Th
Thi
This
This i
This is
This is a
This is an
This is an a
This is an ar
This is an arr
This is an arro
This is an arrow
This is an arro
This is an arr
This is an ar
This is an a
This is an
This is a
This is
This i
This
Thi
Th
T
Kahu Age: 10, Year: 5, Gladstone Primary School, Auckland
Bap
Skip skip skop
Bop bip bap
Gop hip cop
Cob cib bib
Dib dob dap cap.
Ben E, age 7, St. Andrews College, Christchurch
Bottle Lake Forest Rondelet
We’re by the sky.
The clouds are building misty fog.
We’re by the sky.
My brother makes a cottage pie.
My father finds a giant frog,
that disappears in the smog.
We’re by the sky.
Tom N, 10 year 6, Hoon Hay School/ Te Kura Koaka
Koalas Climb Trees
Koalas climb trees
Above all the predators
Koalas climb trees
Usually eucalyptus
Koalas climb trees
That get cut down by humans
Koalas climb trees
But soon there won’t be any more
Lucile Age: 10 yrs Yr: 5 Gladstone Primary
Prancing
The dog prances along the long grass
The astronaut prances along the moon
The cat prances along the fuzzy carpet
The pilot prances along the clouds
The sun
The sun shines on the ocean
The sunset goes to bed
The sun peeks through the clouds
The sunrise wakes up
Mia D Age: 10 Selwyn House School, Christchurch (two poems)
Tahi H age: 9 year: 5 Gladstone Primary School
Matt the Fluffy Bubble Cat
Bubble Cat
Trouble cat
Bubble trouble cat
Bubble trouble Flat
Bubble trouble Flat Cat
Matt the cat sat on the mat
Matt the cat chased a rat
Matt the cat took of his hat
Matt the cat is flat
Fluffy Cat
Scruffy Cat
Lucky cat
Funny Cat
Kitty Cat
Charlotte, aged 11, Selwyn House School
The Dog
The dog sleeps on pepperoni
The dog sleeps on cotton candy
The dog sleeps on a Ruru’s back
The dog sleeps on a baby’s hand
The dog sleeps in the middle of a lake
The dog sleeps in some strawberry pie
The dog sleeps on a soft fern
By Zoe S, Age 7 Year 3 St Andrews College
Sing Sharp
Hip Hop Hip
Skip Slop Skip
Sing King Sing
Triangle Sharp
Sharp
Shar
Sha
Sh
S
Sharp!
Maia T Ilam School, Year 3
My Cat Star
My cat Star loves chewing tuna and crunchy fish
but boy she leaves a messy dish
My cat Star loves to jump up on my bed
she purrs when I stroke her on the head
My cat Star loves her toy cat and won’t let go
and I like that too you know
My cat Star enjoys catching mice
I think Star is better than nice
Olivia Burt Age 8 Year 4 Maoribank School
The Fantail
The fantail is flapping towards water for a drink
The fantail is catching flying bugs
The fantail is frolicking in a nest full of family
What a fantastic fantail!
Krysta T Age 9, Year 5 Te Awaiti Maoribank School
A, B, C, 1, 2, 3
Argyle acorn A’s.
Blotch bug B’s.
Checkered cheese C’s.
Dotty Dandelion D’s.
Every Even E’s.
Fleck Fan F’s.
Gingham goat G’s.
Herringbone Hamburgers H’s.
Iced igloo I’s.
Jelly June J’s.
Keyboard kitten K’s.
Lotus leaf L’s.
Mosaic May M’s.
Nimble nice N’s.
Octopus old O’s.
Paisley perfect P’s.
Quilt queen Q’s.
Ribble rose R’s.
Speckled scarf S’s.
Tartan turtle T’s.
Umbrella uncle U’s.
Village van V’s.
Waffle wagon W’s.
Xylophone x – ray X’s.
Yoyo yield Y’s.
AND Zigzag zoo Z’s.
Mia B, age 10, Selwyn House School
Clothes Colour Pattern
Argyle aubergine asics.
Blotchy blue beanie.
Checkered cyan coat.
Dotty dandelion dress.
Eerie ebony earmuffs
Floral flamingo frills
Gridded green garment
Herringbone hazel hat
Isolated iris ice skates
Jagged jade jumpsuit
Knitted Keppel kilt
Lattice lilac leggings
Mosaic magenta mittens
Navy star neon nightgown
Oblong orange outfit
Paisley purple pom poms
Quilted Quartile quilt
Ribbed red robe
Stripy scarlet scarf
Tartan turquoise top
Ubiquitous umber uniform
Very violet vests
Wiggled White wetsuits
Xylophone Xanthic X-treme sports top
Yo-Yo yellow yoga wear
Zigzag Zunza zip up hoodie
Leona K 9 years old Selwyn House School
Note from Paula: These two poems are pretty close but I don’t mind that – I think the girls had fun writing them and they are very cool!
The herd
Sparkly, swooping, magical, speedy.
Speedy, magical, swooping, sparkly.
Swooping, magical, speedy, sparkly.
There go the unicorns,
And pegasus,
And allicorns.
Magical, speedy, swooping, sparkly.
Eva F Aged 5, Year 1, Stirling School
Happy
I am happy
Yay! Yay! Yay!
Everyone is happy
Yay Yay Yay!
Best day of my life
Yay Yay Yay!
Pouring honey on myself
Yum Yum Yum!!
It is delicious
Yum Yum Yum!
I slurped it off my face
Slurp Slurp Slurp!
Yum Yum Yum!
Aditya C Age: 9 years Ilam School, Christchurch
Summer
(A triolet)
The sun is bright
Birds sing in the trees
Summer is at its height
The sun is bright
The sky is light
The people make cheese
The sun is bright
Birds sing in the trees
Keir, age 9, Gladstone Primary
Tekapo
The lake water sprays
The sun shines
The never-ending days
The lake water sprays
On the sandy bays
The shore’s wiggly lines
The lake water sprays
The sun shines.
Zoe S, Age: 12, Y8, Heaton Normal Intermediate
The Moon
The Moon shines bright.
Everybody is sleeping soundly.
The Moon lights up the night.
The Moon shines bright.
The Moon produces light for the night.
The world is sleeping quietly.
The Moon shines bright.
Everybody is sleeping soundly.
Mickey Z, aged 8 , Year 4, Ilam School
The Moon
Moon star moon
Star moon star
Moon and star
Best friend together.
Michelle Z, 7 years old, Ilam school
Keir, age: 9 year: 5 Gladstone Primary School
Tully C Age: 10 Year: 5 Gladstone Primary School
Hector, Year:5 Age:9 Gladstone Primary School
A Triloet for Duke
My Maine Coon is just a kitten
Even though he’s super sized
When you see him you’ll be smitten
My Maine Coon is just a kitten
At least that’s how his birthday’s written
Though it might come as a surprise
My Maine Coon is just a kitten
Even though he’s super sized
My Maine Coon is a dork
He loves to zoom around the house
He likes to join me for a walk
My Maine Coon is a dork
He’d really like to hunt a hawke
Instead he rips up his toy mouse
My Maine Coon is a dork
He loves to zoom around the house
My Maine Coon is my best friend
And he loves me back
He sometimes drives mum round the bend
My Maine Coon is my best friend
And I will keep him ‘til the end
Hopefully way down the track
My Maine Coon is my best friend
And he loves me back
Daniel, age 10, Y6, Adventure School
Pattern Poems from Rangeview Intermediate Readers & Writers Book Club
Jump dance
jump dance jump
dance jump dance
jump jump jump
dance dance dance
by Amelia Y7
Chortle Bird
Chortle chortle chortle
Goes the chortle bird
Warble twitter chortle
I wish it would
Sound less cheerful
Chortle twitter screech
Goes the chortle bird
Swoosh
Away flies the chortle bird
by Amelia Y7
Running by Isabella Y7
I run from the volcano
I run from the flood
I run from the tsunami
I run from the hurricane
Dance
I dance with my friends
I dance with my family
I dance with my sister
I dance with my grandparents
by Isabella Y7