What fun to do poetry with children in Featherston (and some mums who joined in too!). I read some of my poems, we made up long long snaking poems, we made up poems using our ears, and we made up poems using our eyes. I loved the way everyone joined in and the pens went scratching like tiny poetry mice on the paper. A SPECIAL DAY!
So a big thank you to all the children (and mums) who filled the room with a poetry glow – I was still glowing as I drove over the Rimutaka range on Monday and flew home! I was waiting for someone to ask what my glow was all about, so I could say it was a Featherston Booktown glow from all the poems the children wrote.
I am so sorry not all my photos turned out so I have just shared a few with you! Honey-rose only half your Platywawa poem was in the photo!
Here are a few of the poems
Animals Are Fun
The Snake
I’m a slithery snake
I’m a slow shedding snake
I’m a red banded snake
I’m a mountain dwelling snake
I’m a dynamic ssssssing snake
I’m an awesome smelling snake
I’m a LONG snake
Isaac, age 9, St Teresa School
Chihuahua
I’m tiny teeny chihuahua
I’m a sleepy weepy chihuahua
I’m a fat rat chihuahua
I’m a kind windy chihuahua
I’m a cheeky sneaky chihuahua
Honey-rose, age 9, St Teresa School
I’m a Horse
I’m a lightning speedy horse
I’m a stinky muddy horse
I’m a raspberry lemonade horse
I’m a loving loving pretty horse
Sarah, age 8, Queen Margaret College
Cat
I’m a sausage roll cat
I’m a pink polka dot cat
I’m an orange stripy cat
I’m a crunchy munchy cat
I’m a sweet lolly cat
I’m a loved loved cat
Evie, age 8, Greytown School
Cat
The cat is stripy and fluffy
and cute and a good cat.
Emilia, age 6, Featherston School
Imaginary Animals
Lizarpus
The lizarpus likes to eat the fungi
The lizarpus doesn’t like to eat pie
The lizarpus likes to eat chocolate
The Lizarpus likes to drink juice
The lizarpus likes rocks
The lizaropus swims in the sea
The lizarpus loves clouds
The lizarpus is AWESOME!
Isaac, age 9, St Teresa School
The Sniger
A sniger likes to eat meat
A sniger likes to play catch the ball
A sniger likes to slide and snooze
And you have to watch out for its tail
or you might turn into kale!
India, age 7, Featherston School
Eletamus
Eletamus grow in the forest
Bathes in the mud
Plays with sparkling sequins
East dry hay
Elatamus makes your day
Azalea, age 7, St Teresa School
The Snakog
The snakog likes to eat mouse
and tigers.
The snakog likes to play
with his ball.
Lulu, age 8, Queen Margaret College
And some picture poems for our mums
My Mum
Long silky black hair, Smile as wide as the sun,
Eyes as brown as cocoa,
Eyebrows as dark as the midnight sky, Posture proud as the sun.
Rush! Rush! by Elena de Roo, illustrated by Jenny Cooper, One Tree House, 2021
Over the fence,
and down with a whoosh!
Onto the track!
Into the bush.
Elena de Roo is my favourite New Zealand poet for children and I have long hoped for a collection from her. Her new book Rush! Rush! is definitely a start. The book-length poem is an absolute JOY to read. A young girl is racing to get from home to the beach. Maestro illustrator Jenny Cooper has painted the girl in her pyjamas and dressing gown, because she has pulled the curtains back, peeked at the beautiful day, and then whizzed through the door. Rush! Rush! Rush! The illustrations are sublime. So full of exuberant life. Read the book and savour the images as you race along with the poem and the girl. You will get breathless too!
Every word is pitch perfect. One of the reasons (and there are many) I admire Elena as a poet is because she has a deft musical ear. She listens to how the line sounds. She avoids the clunky predictable rhythms and rhymes of so many picture books. She catches the rhythm of a child rushing, breathing in sights and sounds, and who is too excited to stop. The rhymes are a treat, especially the near rhymes that add knottiness to the musical flow (blind / time; sheep / bleat). She dances between soft and sharp sounds. Ah! she is a poet musician extraordinaire!
It felt like I read the story poem in one delicious breath – and I really liked the ending. A perfect ending (a single word!) to open the story wide like the girl’s arms stretched wide on the cover.
This book is a JOYFUL INVIGORATING POETRY treat and would be the very best book to read aloud to a class or your children. I was reminded of Margaret Mahy’s fabulous A Summery Saturday Morning. I love Rush! Rush! And it has given me an idea for my April Poetry Challenge.
Swoop round the shed,
In a ground-hugging loop.
What’s all the fuss about?
Rattles the roof.
Elena de Roo completed this book when she was the 2020 University of Otago College of Education / Creative NZ Children’s Writer in Residence. She has written a number of award-winning books and lives in Auckland.
Jenny Cooper is an award-winning illustrator and has illustrated more than 70 books. She lives in Amberley, Christchurch.
Welcome back to Poetry Box!! I am very excited about doing poetry with you in 2021 and seeing how words will take us exploring, adventuring, experimenting, playing, recording, inventing, telling stories, sounding good, thinking, dreaming, feeling GOOD!
I had a lovely summer. My vegetable garden went crazy with veggies. I read loads of books (adult and children and in between!). I wrote some poems. I started secret new writing projects I will go exploring with this year.
And YES!! I have an exciting new children’s book coming out later in the year. I edited an animal poem anthology and can’t wait for you to see it.
Sad things happened – we now have only one pet left – Charlie the stray kitten is now an old man cat (nearly 18!) who likes to sleep in my guitar case.
So let’s getting writing poems!
The March Poem Challenge:
Summer poems
Write a poem that is inspired by summer. It can be true, made up, tell a story, short, long. Here are some ideas.
TOP tip: Don’t send your poem the day you write it. Let it sit until at least the next day if not a week.
Here are some ideas:
Write a summer postcard to someone about something you saw or did.
Write a summer poem about your favourite summer place. Use words to take a photograph or a video!
Write a summer poem that has loads of summer verbs.
Write a summer poem that has loads of summer nouns.
Write a summer poem about your favourite summer food.
Write a summer poem that tells a summer story.
Write a summer poem that imagines the perfect summer experience.
Write a summer poem about has a twist in the telling!
Write a summer poem that catches summer weather.
Write a summer poem that is full of surprises.
Write a summer poem about your favourite summer moment.
YOU can include an artwork
DEADLINE: 26th March
SEND TO: paulajoygreen@gmail.com
INCLUDE: your name, age, year, name of school or say home schooled
DON”T FORGET TO WRITE:Summer poem challenge in email subject line
thanks everyone who sent in poems in 2020 and making Poetry Box so special
It has taken me ages to read all your scrumptious food poems (hundreds of them!) with such sweet salty sour sizzling wordchoices. I loved the way your imaginations leapt and trampolined, and your poems made me want to eat yummy things.
Too many poems to post them all – butthe challenge is to have fun writing poetry and to play with words and ideas. And you have done a SMORGASBORD of that. What fun.
I always feel sad I can’t pick all your poems, but I hope you keep up the poetry loveover summer and try writing a poem of your own.
I have had big problems doing this post so if your poem is set out wrong or I haven’t replied to you let me know. paulajoygreen@gmail.com
AND then in March 2021 try my first poem challenge of the year.
Poetry Box is never hosting competitions (so no winners and losers) but invites you to try new and old things when it comes to writing a poem.
I was inspired to do the food challenge by the excellent Egg & Spoon cookbook (Alexander Tylee and Giselle Clarkson). Gecko Press have kindly given me two copies to give away. I am giving them to: Harry S from Fendalton School and Finn B from Russley School.
The Poems
Pie
When mum’s in the kitchen the smell of fresh pie fills the rooms of my house then it sneaks out.
Vitek M, 7 years old, Y2, Ilam School
A Bed of Clams
Cranky, clinky clams
Checked rough patterns
burrowing like kids in bed
Finn B Year 3 Russley School
My Morning Porridge
My morning porridge Steaming in pot Nutritious warmth trapped inside Just oats and creamy milk My morning porridge Melting in your mouth Leaving me with a warm glow in my tummy Ready for a long day at school My morning porridge Raspberry, blueberries and banana Fruit explosions Sticking to my face I lick up the warm goodness Of my morning porridge
Phoebe, age 12, Selwyn House
Waffles
French waffles in snowy Paris with a little dog tied to a dark leather lead drinking cold glistening water looking at my waffle with its golden crispy coat
Harry S age 9 year 4 Fendalton School
Crumb
A crumb, falling, birds chomping, flying away, a competition, starting in the sky.
Maia-Sophia B Age: 11 Ilam School
Crispy Egg Tarts
Crispy egg tarts Have a lovely crunch to them A hot egg jelly inside
Joyce X, age 9, Fendalton Open Air School
Cold Spaghetti
I have a dog a black as coal dog. Her name is Poppy whenever we go to the park she lets herself loose out on the field and slowly gets tired and sits down beside me begging for food of course. I refuse she runs as fast as thunder to an open can of cold spaghetti Yum yum!
Libby, age 7, Ilam School
Poems from Richmond Rd School
Sushi
Crunchy Seaweed and squishy rice With a surprise in the middle Curled up like a cylinder With a tasty texture.
By Kaden, Ana Cooper O and Meadow
Lollies
Sticky sweet suckers, Dissolving in my mouth. Slippery on your tongue. Melty in your mouth, Super sweet and sticky, Sour surprises!
By Felix and Issy, Feddie and Sophia L
Strawberries
It is super sweet on your tongue It’s like a crooked, fat, witches nose. It’s a glowing heart with black freckles.
By Sophia L and Feddie
Strawberry
Red and juicy flesh in my mouth A sweet surprise in the shape of a love heart Full of seeds and nice and squishy Like a precious red ruby.
By Issy and Felix
Rockmelon
Pale orange like the sun Setting across the silver sea It’s as juicy as a melting ice block
By Cooper and Meadow
MORE Scrumptious Food Poems
My annoying brother
It’s 6 am, I feel like it’s 1, Stomp, stomp, stomp. I hear heavy footsteps downstairs. I slip my slippers on and my dressing gown. I tiptoe out of my room, open the door, creek! The door creeks open, I continue to tiptoe down the stairs. I reach the bottom of the stairs. My arm is reaching for a torch nearby. I turn it on. Crunch, munch, crunch. I head towards the kitchen door. My brother yells, ‘AHH!’ ‘It’s okay, it’s okay it is only me’ I say calmly. I stride across the floor to where he’s sitting bolt upright on a stool opposite a counter full of biscuits and chocolate. ‘WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING? ‘Eating breakfast’ My brother said with a nervous tone. ‘Oh really?
Isabella G Age:10 Selwyn House School
I like FOOD
I have travelled the world
And tasted food of all kinds
Here are just some
That spring to my mind
The food in France
Sent me into a trance
Baguettes
Snails
Frogs legs
Quails
In Finland I ate bold
Because I was so cold
Reindeer
Rye
Herring
Rice pie
In Aussie it was easy
To find food that was greasy
Snags
Meat pies
Kangaroo
Loaded fries
The buffets of Singapore
Have all food types – and more
Dumplings
Curries
Egg stations
Juice flurries
In Canada, poutine
Hawaii has loco moco
In America, alligator
Couscous in Morocco
Fettucine, fish, frankfurters and fruit
Oreos, oranges, Opera cakes
Oats, omelettes, or oxtail soup
Dumplings, donuts, duck and dates
There is so much food! But I have to say
The thing that I like most
Is what I eat at home every day…
Peanut buttery toast!
Daniel L, age 12, Y7, Hadlow School
MR WHIPPY
It’s a warm and sunny day
To be on the gorgeous bay
I am jumping and splashing
And oh! I hear loud screeching
I swish, jump and turn around
See a car going around
I see an ice cream on top
Of the car that makes me hop
MR WHIPPY!
I quickly run to my dad
He pulls dollars out and I’m glad
He replies : “You are in luck!”
So I run straight to the truck
I now have a chocolate chip
Ice cream in chocolate dip
IT’S SO YUMMY!
Leo Y Year 7 Age 11, Russley School
Salmon Patties
The shopping list: 210 grams of crimson red salmon 2 eggs 2 tablespoons of self-raising flour 1-2 tablespoons of stinky vinegar.
The Classic Method Drain the liquid of the salmon and replace with the smelliest vinegar you can find In a bowl, beat up the eggs…but don’t bully them Mix the flour into the bullied eggs Now add the salmon and mix well, like soil and water In a frying pan, add a pat of butter and oil Once you have heated it up enough, you will hear sizzling like the sounds of summer Add the mushy mixture in tablespoon lots and cook until the mixture sets. Or before Christmas comes With an egg slicer turn the patties repeatedly until nice and crispy brown…or when your heart desires You can now officially munch your salmon patties up. Pro tip: Eat before your family discovers that you’re eating the yummiest recipe ever
Niya K Age: 10 Ilam School Canterbury
How to make breakfast:
First you take the bread out of the freezer. Then you heat it up using the heater. Next you put it in the toaster and heat it up nice. While you wait, get some water and put in some ice. When the toast is done, take a butter knife to spread the peanut butter. Then put the cheese on the toast using a cheese cutter. When the breakfast meal is completed, Well, now you can eat it!
Scarlett B 11 yrs old Yr 6 College Street Normal School
Spaghetti
My slim fingers dig into the slimy spaghetti spilled on my plate. The sauce bubbles through my teeth, slowly slips away down my throat, scratches my insides like tiger’s teeth rippling down my belly.
Eliska M, 9 years old, Y5 Ilam School
Fish Burritos
nicely toasted soft tortillas crumble into my mouth
fresh and thick sour cream changes the taste
crumbs wrapped around my fish like a cloak
red onion dancing along my taste buds sharing its song
leafy coriander reminds me of trees
sriracha sauce giving it a kick to top it off
Violetta, aged 11, Selwyn House School
LS4 Middle School at Westmere
Snails
Once I ate a snail, which left a snail trail, on my tongue!
It could have been less blubbery and very much less flubbery. The little thing daren’t go down.
I liked it but I couldn’t. I’d like it if it didn’t make me have to chew and grind and swallow it whole!
At first it tasted like olives. just a flavoured bit of fat, but after a while I thought… “I’ll never stomach that!”
byLakie
My Ode to Malaysian
Oh Malaysian, Malaysian You are the best. Your roti is like a pancake. Your spicy chicken blows me away, probably because you are in a curry!
Oh Malaysian, Malaysian I love your pineapple and coconut milkshake. It wakes me up the moment I sip it. I love you from my head to my feet.
Oh Malaysian, Malaysian You are my love. When I eat you I feel like a dove! I will never let you go, not for a month. No, not time to go! Do I have to wait another week?
By Nina
Potato Top Pie!
Potato top pie so creamy and delicious. On the top, a potato tornado, swirling like the wind on a breezy day. It’s my favourite in the world! I find it extraordinary. It melts in my mouth, like an ice cream on a hot day. Out of all the pies, this is the best. Do you like it too? I do! Potato top pie.
Jackson
Fish and Chips
Fish and chips. Crunching and munching on these delightful chips! Soft in the middle crunchy on the outside. Man, I can’t stop munching on these fish and chips. Little bit sweet little bit sour. Just the perfect flavour. Ohhhhh! This is the food! Fish and chips. Crunching and munching on these delightful chips!
Billy
Pizza!
Pizza, Pizza, Pizza It’s time to make a base. Knead, knead, knead, knead stretch, stretch, pull.
Pizza, Pizza, Pizza It’s time to spread the sauce. Dollop, dollop,spread, spread We could add some gorse?
Pizza, Pizza, Pizza It’s time to lay the toppings. Mushrooms, salami and olives too. Plop! on the pizza, Yum for you!
Pizza, Pizza, Pizza. It’s time to sprinkle the cheese. Sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle Pizza for me!
Pizza, Pizza, Pizza It’s time to cook it brown. Bake, bake, bake, bake, Turn the oven down.
Pizza, Pizza, Pizza It’s time to eat it up!
Share, share, share, share, YUM, YUM, YUM!
By Martha
Year One Richmond Road School
A Feastival
Fish sizzling in a frying pan Odorous onions make me cry Sour lemon makes my face funny Popcorn fireworks blowing through the air Chicken drumsticks feel so slippery and greasy
Trish’s year 1 class Richmond Road School
Rainbows
Radishes as red as a tomato Apples as golden as a medal Ice cream is as brown as a raisin Nectarines are as yellow as a buttercup Broccoli is as green as mint Oranges are as orange as Fruit Bursts Watermelon as pink as a pig Spaghetti as beige as a building block
Trish’s year 1 class Richmond Road School
Chips
Crunchy munchy chicken chips Handful of happiness In my puku Potatoes at their best Salty, spicy, scrumptious!
Trish’s year 1 class Richmond Road School
6 & 7 year olds at Westmere School
My Food! My Food!
My cat likes fish, YUK! I don’t like fish! I love strawberries. They’re really juicy! Mmmmmmm. I lick my lips when I see them. YAY!
Chloe H Age 7
Food!
I hate dark chocolate. I love pepperoni pizza with cheese. I love mango flavoured ice cream I hate Peas!
Yosei F Age 6
Ice Cream and Food
I like chocolate and ice cream But I hate smoked salmon. Yuk! I like pizza pineapple and ham pizza, Yum! I hate rice and peas mixed in a bowl. I love broccoli and chicken. I love strawberries and ice cream and popcorn. YUM!
Chloe P Age 6
MacDonalds
Soft buns. It has tomato sauce that goes well with mustard as hot as hot chocolate. The chips are so salty I need a sip of water, with ice.
Henry P Age 7
5 year olds at WestmereSchool
Watermelon
When you take a bite of watermelon, does it dribble down your chin Yes it does! When I take bite of watermelon I spit out the seeds!
Ella 5
Eggs
I do not like egg It tastes yukky. (But I like eggs in cakes…)
Orli 5
Bubblegum
My favourite food is bubblegum I love bubblegum because I like making bubbles. You make bubbles by chewing and chewing and chewing then you BLOW!
Charlie 5
and lastly, a couple of combined poem from Westmere 5 year olds ….
Jelly!
The jelly is like a frog, slimy. The jelly looks like a cloud. The jelly is slippery, slimy. The jelly is as yummy as an ice cream and it is jiggly. The jelly is really wriggly. The jelly is as wobbly as santa’s hat. The jelly is like a slippery mushy bubble. The jelly is as wobbly as your shivering hands. The jelly is as cold as the frozen strawberry. The jelly is wriggly as a tickly hand. The jelly is wobbly like a wriggly worm and I like it. The jelly is jiggly jelly and it is shiny like the ocean because it is watery. The jelly is cold like the north pole. The jelly is as wobbly as Santa’s hat. The jelly is cold and wobbly and it’s yummy. The jiggly wiggly jelly is like a frog. The jelly is as jiggly as a worm. The jelly is like Santa’s hat and it is as wobbly as a penguin. The jelly is like super slimy on my hand.
Even MORE tasty food poems
Cherries
Red cherries in a tree, Falling on top of me. And I eat them up. So delicious! They come in twins, And different shades of red.
Mia W Y5 age 9, Fendalton Open Air School
How to Live a Long Time
Ingredients:
A birthday
Noodles (Ideally long)
Water
Jokes
Steps:
Wait until your birthday
Go to a noodle shop or canteen
Choose very thin and long noodles which symbolise long life
Then tell funny jokes which make you live even longer
Drink lots of water
Now you know how to live a long time, good luck!
Sam| 8 years old|Year 4| Russley School
Richmond Schoolpoems
I like pizza and lasagna. I like tacos and macho nachos. I like salt and vinegar chips with my fish. I like pumpkin soup with bread in bed. I like chicken drumsticks with sauce. I eat them without pause. When it’s halloween I am a candy and chocolate eating machine. When it’s Christmas time… it’s always turkey with some gravy.
Theo M Age:10 Richmond Road School
Cotton Candy
Cotton candy Twisty, twirly Wispy, whirly.
Melts in my mouth. Sugary sweet My favourite candy, I love to eat. Like a pile of fluff bundled up in a tuft.
Cotton candy Twisty, twirly Wispy, whirly.
Parker age 9 Richmond Rd School
Big Roast Beef
Its raining big roast beef today How much beef ? It’s hard to say!
They plummet down, one by one , A Christmas treat! Oh what such fun!
Charlie M Age 9 Richmond Rd School
Churton Park School poems
Dear Broccoli,
You are my worst nightmare I hate you so much Every bite haunts me WHY DO YOU HAVE TO EXIST!
If I were you I would pack your bags And move to a different UNIVERSE. All the different types of broccoli, Fried, microwaved, cheesy and boiled I HATE THEM ALL!
Do you get what I’m meaning NOW? Do you understand? I’ll say it one more time DON”T STAY HERE AND DO NOT COME BACK!
Sincerely,
Cauliflower
Kate, 11, Churton Park School
Ode to Chip
Oh, lovely chip filled with joy You make people happy every second of the day You make people scrunch their face with your salty sensation and you can come in different sizes like big and small Your obvious texture feels nice on your tongue Crunchy and smooth we love them all soft or crunchy.
Jacob L Age 11 Churton Park School
Mac and cheese recipe
CHEESE,CHEESE, CHEESE Melting in a pot! Fake cheese fake cheese fake cheese Melting in a pot! Noodle noodle noodle boiling in a pot! bacon bacon bacon sizzling in a pan! Noodles noodles noodles strained into the sink cheesy sauce and bacon being added to a bowl mixing mixing mixing mac and cheese in a bowl
Mya, 11, Year 6, Churton Park School
A Food Poem
Water tasting like salt and pepper Noodles curling like long snakes Tender red meat tasting like heaven Fresh green leaves garnished around A red hot chilli sitting all by itself
Pranavi, Year 6, Churton Park School, Wellington
Lasagne
Dear Lasagne, Sticky layers of pasta roll across my tongue Fleshy mince melts in my mouth Cheesy paste explodes in my mouth like a volcano A creamy smell of your sauce wafts into my delighted nose. My stomach bulges as I take the last satisfying bite
Dylan age 11 Churton Park School
Birthday
Sitting down at a birthday party, folding my legs. I grab a small slice of cake. I slowly bite into it, I feel a light spongy mushy texture with a hint of sugar“ So delicious, freshly out of the oven so soft. I enjoy every single bit of it, the sun shining on my face.
Courtney-Jane Age – 10 Year – 6, Churton Park School
Chocolate Fountain
A rippling cascade of chocolatey deliciousness Coating a minuscule slice of crispy apple Smothering a cube of almost sour kiwifruit And hardening over a freshly skewered strawberry
The fountain bubbles slightly But otherwise flows smoothly on top of a dipped banana Making an archway underneath And covering the sweet fruit with chocolate
As I bring one to my mouth The molten chocolate dribbles onto the table, Drips a bit And starts to harden
Kyra, Age 1, Churton Park School
An extra feast of delicious poems
Watermelon haiku
Watermelon brother of the pumpkin * Watermelon son of the pumpkin king * Under his cap the watermelons’ pink room * In the quiet darkness the moon shadows the watermelon * From my tree-house it rains watermelon seeds
Tom N, Y7, age 12, Christchurch South Intermediate
Christmas Dinner
I am cooking Christmas Dinner
it is the BEST thing that you will EVER taste
For the meat I am using turkey, deep fried
in coconut oil
with goat tongue and boar tripe
garnished with turtle eyes.
For the vegetables I am making
eggplant boiled in camomile and dandelion root tea,
The Nature Activity Book: 99 Ideas for Activity in the Natural World of Aotearoa New Zealand Rachel Haydon, illustrated Pippa Keel, Te Papa Press, 2020
This stunning activity book inspired me to set a number of nature poetry challenges for you last month. I invited you to take your time writing a poem and to explore nature. I invited you to listen and look, but also gave you a chance to use your imagination.
I got sent hundreds of poems so it has taken me a long time to reply to you all, and it was an exceptionally hard job choosing just a few to post here. I loved reading your poems and I can tell you loved writing them.
I especially loved the way you went outside and you listened and looked. What a terrific time the students at Russley School, Nova Montessori School and Churton Park School had slowing down in the world to look and listen.
I loved the way some words stayed with me all day: my favourite word ‘frizzle’ in Myla‘s poem. I loved the detail William found for his beast. I loved the way Phoebe structured her cloud poem. I loved the way Esme ended her poem with a pencil scribbling!
Sometimes I loved a poem but it needed a bit of fact checking – when you make up a beast you can let your imagination go flying, but other nature poems might need a bit of research.
I have picked these young poets to send a copy of the book to – thanks to the publisher Te Papa Press: Fēlim (Nova Montesorri School), Blake (Russley School), Luke and Kate (Churton Park School) and Sophia (Westmere School).
I loved all the poems so much – I am always sad that I can’t post them all because you made my heart glow reading them. What fabulous young writers you are!
It took me so long to do this, and you are still on holiday, so I am going to post my next poetry challenge on November 1st – and I am very EXCITED about it! I will have books to give away. But between now and then I will post book reviews and might have secret popUP challenges with giveaway books.
I ended this post with a fabulous poem by Daniel – who reminded me to stop and look at things I so often miss (as lots of these poems do.
Happy poem days!
The Poems
Grassy
When I hold grass
It makes my hand tingle.
A piece of sand is littler
Than a grain of rice.
A blade of grass is so small it reminds me of a stick insect.
Fēlim R, Age 9, Year 5, Nova Montessori School
Dallion
The eight legged dallion, with a body as grey as rain clouds, And fur as scruffed up as leaves on a tree, And teeth as sharp as a knife, And ears as round as semicircles, Trampling through the forest.
His paws shaking the ground, Leaves fluttering down as fast as heavy rain. The beast mimicking it’s prey.
Max D, 7 years old, Year 3 Ilam School
Wind
I am the wind
I can blow your sandcastle down
I make the flag slither
like a snake
I can get your kite stuck
in a tree
I can make your hair go crazy
I can flip the pages of your book
I make sailboats bolt across the sea
In autumn, I make leaf tornadoes
I sound like a stampede of elephants
I also sound like the waves
at the beach
I am a brachiosaurus burp
I am a peregrine falcon diving
but I can also be gentle
like a mouse
by Blake W | Year 3 | age 7 yrs, Russley School
Little Things
I see all the twigs and stones blow around in the wind. The twigs all have a similar shape and pattern on them. When I pick up the stick I can feel the rust on the outside. I see an ant walk over veins that are in the ground with dust blowing on it. The color of the veins are brown with a little bit of orange in the inside. I see the grass go everywhere in random directions on the ground. When I pick up a piece of grass I feel the softness on the outside. The color of the grass is bright green with a shadow.
Luke, Room 2, Churton Park School
Ginko walk
The airplane rumbles in the distance
like a teenager crunching into piles of pringles
Grass sways in the wind
like an old man waving at his best friend
Silky clouds reflect off my shirt
like big blobs of paint beaming at me
Dead tickley shade leaves sunbathe
under the burning hot sun
By Sam L | age 8 | Year 4, Russley School
Ginko
Twig nest crumbling
Greenfinch with ivory beak
Soaring through the sky
Lonely gray stone not moving an inch
What is that yellow flower?
Fingertips skimming over the hopscotch
Tahi
Rua
Toru
A white candyfloss palace
and whipped cream
floating round the sky
Whā Rima
Ono
Whitu Waru
I listen to the Beach Boys booming from the hall
this is the best place ever
James DW, Y4, Russley School
extreme ginko walk
rough white bricks on room 10
staying still like a statue in a museum
birds chirping like mad scientists
planning world domination
small brown twig
tiny as a chopped grass root
puffy clouds swishing, swaying,
moulding into indomitable dragons, chunky pigs,
silvery elephants prancing like circus pachyderms
Anabelle K, age 8, Russley School
Sounds of the World
I sit outside
The wind tickling the hair on my cheek
A big truck rumbles by
Interrupting the honk-honk of birds
The wind rises again
The flax goes clickety-clack
The soft sound of the green leaves rubbing
That’s what I hear when I sit outside
Mieke N, Age 9, Y5, Nova Montessori School
I Wonder Why
In front of the library filled with books
mysteries and adventures
a warning
COVID-19 poster
the bare oak tree stretches its branches to reach the sky
soft breeze cools me down
a flock of house sparrows chirp gracefully
delicate flowers shine in the sun
and I wonder
why the sky
is such a very bright blue?
Mostafa E, age 9, Y5, Russley School
Scribbles
Wind so shivering cold
I pull down my sleeves
until they cover my hands
The NZ flag flies awkwardly
grasps the pole like a sail on a boat
A small rock in my shoe
pokes my foot hurting my heel
A fabulous fragile yellow nemesia
drops its petals
My red, sharp WARWICK pencil scribbles
adjectives and verbs
Esme S, age 10, Y5, Russley School
Tiny Things
Little seeds they fall from plants Ready to start their plant life Daffodils sprouting to see the mother Sun Dance and play with their twins Blades of grass like the feathers of a duck Let out the fresh air we breath
Mia M, aged 9, Fendalton Open Air School
Sounds of Spring
The bees sound hot, like the hot ground as they quiver and buzz like rice bubbles popping. The cat sounds like a motorbike, a car, an engine and my dog snoring. The sparrows sound like people chattering, squawking, tweeting and beeping. The thunder sounds like sea in a shell, a giant stomping, a bomb exploding, waves crashing and drums drumming. The tūī sounds like a fart, a burp, a hiccup and a frog!
By Charlie P., Theo L-C, Harry P, Charlotte B and Seb S all aged 5 from Westmere School
Clouds
The clouds move on with every breeze Making different shapes and sizes
There’s a rabbit and this one’s a dinosaur, no wait, it’s a unicorn
When the clouds merge together and the rain pours down I think of a grayish white dome covering the bright blue sky up
And after it clears and the sun comes out Little white fluffy clouds start to form something big Maybe it’ll be a marshmallow shaped cloud with a ring around it Or a flying tiger
With clouds you can think of anything
Kate, age 10, Churton Park School
Peace
I can hear the rough wind traveling through the delicate leaves But I’m distracted by the big truck beeping, reversing into the building site But I am put to calm again by the chirping of birds flying through the brown branches on the tree But I am annoyingly disturbed once again by the footsteps of running children running back to class after having a lot of fun So overall you can’t have been at peace for more than two minutes.
Alex, age 11, Churton Park School
In the clouds…
Elephants, lions, meerkats Drifting past Bossed by the wind
Cumulus Elephants Chased by the wind Blowing them back home
Stratus Lions Disappearing with the wind Prowling through the sky
Cumulonimbus Meerkats Following the wind Finding their babies
Phoebe, age 12, Selwyn House School
Patterns in Nature – Honeycomb
The yellow hexagon pattern like honeycomb Hidden away In protecting plants I listen for buzzing bees But all I can hear is the loud rustle Of the strong wind yelling With force At the poor, green trees
Genevye, age 9, Y6, Churton Park School
GardenGazing
As I walk through my garden I see all the obvious things Like clouds and flowers and my brother loudly whining But there is one thing I notice As my bare feet walked across the grass The mini, skimpy ants Scoot across the fence How do these little wonders live In a world that might be too big for them?
Ahana, 11 years, Churton Park School
Midnight
Sticks lie everywhere Their bark as strong as metal Water sits, waiting, waiting, waiting Waiting for the wind Breeze washes the water, Turning it like yeast The water changes from Murky to Clean as air
Ivy, age 7, Ilam Primary School
Patterns
Sunny day colourful patterns slice open the sky
Rainy day dazzling patterns dance across icy puddles
At the beach Gulls’ shadows fold a pattern down the cliff face
In my garden a snail leaves a wavy pattern on the concrete
By the pool clouds make footsteps across the sky
From the plane tiny houses create patterns to make a maze
Saskia F, 9 years old, Year 4, St Andrews College
Crystal
Cracking on the sand with shiny edges Racing off the cliff like an acrobat You can find them on the beach Smooth as a rock and shiny as a star Tapping on the sand a bit like a rock Along with other crystals in a bunch Lonely on beaches where it’s supposed to be.
by Samuel B aged 7 Westmere School
Cezous
Standing on mossy grey rock surrounded by dark murky water the dark green scales of a Cezous is hardly visible. A long snake, like tail ending in a poison barb is poised in the air. The only light comes from the moon shining through the low fog. Two blank white eyes stare into the distance watching for a glimmer of life.
Tim, Age:10, Fendalton Open Air
The Sound of the Whistling Wind
The meadow has the sound of the whistling wind, with the trees swaying. It’s like a clock twisting on its first hour, The wind then sitting on a shooting star, Cracking apart.
Libby, age 7, Y3, Ilam School
Song of clouds
Puffed up like pastry, Fluffy as whipped cream, The candyfloss of the sky.
Sugary sweet But not something to eat The Earth’s fluffy white scarf
White, shining Calming and luscious Are clouds.
Paige L, 10 yrs old, Fendalton Open-air School
Nature
Wind soaring, whipping and splashing, screeching and whistling, twirling around the branches of a wild, wishing tree. Tūī squawking and roaring, desperate to make a nest. Swirls drop into rushing water running in the breeze. Terrific tūī talk while BANG! A tree smashes down into the river causing sparrows to fly onto rough stones. The sparrows squeak and squawk when suddenly rain starts to splatter down, lightning frizzles down onto the wooden, wacky and watery trees, and thunder zips and zooms through the dark and gloomy sky. Soon stars shine in the shimmering sky making crickets turn and turn.
Myla F age: 7 LS6 Westmere School
The Beast
The beast I saw has a deep dark voice that goes ROAR! He has squiggly lines and little dots on his back. He is also greedy and sometimes eat clouds. He has a beak like a bird as big as an oven. He is so greedy as greedy as greedy cat. I was once sleeping when I woke up my right hand was gone. I knew that the beast ate it. He lives in a desert as dry as 10,000 deserts and grass as cold as ice.
William, age 9, St Andrews School
The Rain
Wailing wind BOOM! SPLAT! BANG! High pitched squeaks echoing from the pūkeko in the rain. CHERP CHERP CHERP goes the fantail in the rain. PZZZZZ FLICK FLACK CLICK CLACK goes the cicada in the rain. WARBLING kiwi in the rain. SWIP SWAP SWIP SWAP goes the black swan in the rain Wailing wind
Lola H age 8 LS6 Westmere School
The Beast
Its sharp twisted horns sliced the air, Its dark hooded eyes endlessly stare, Its mud-tipped white fur rippled in the wind, An icy aura billowed from its skin, Scaled talons ripped the trees, As it landed with practiced ease, Its feathered wings whipped through clouds, Everything that surrounds, Really does not want to meet, This furry, Feathery, Scaly, Beast.
Samantha P, Yr 8, Tai Tapu School
Water!
Crashing water Calling water Dripping water Shouting water Silly water Small water Giant water Shaped water Smelly water Falling water Fast water Slow water Flying water Walking water Jogging water Running water Ice water Solid water Hot water Cold water Gas water Sea water Salty water WATER!
Noah XB age 7 LS6 Westmere School
Nature
Shhhhhhh Listen to Nature!
Burrrrrrrrrp croaked the tuis proudly.
Brrrrrrrrrr drummed the bees, shaking their booties.
Bzzzzzzzz tickled the cicadas, rattling their thorax.
Cheep, chip, cheep, chip, chattered the sparrows.
Bash! Mash! Crash! Smash! Exploded the thunder.
Trish’s Year 1 class (5 and 6 years old) at Richmond Rd School
Crash! Boom! Lightning struck And rain poured. The noise was terrifying And thunderous. It was as loud as elephants STOMPING It was as loud as a lion’s ROAR It was as loud as an eagle’s SCREAM It was as loud as a wolf HOWLING!
Tekaia R Age 8 LS6 and Harry D Age 7 LS6 Westmere School
The Visitor
There is a mysterious trail curving its way, exploring LS3. It crept around the chairs, winding almost up to the big books basket! It’s all jiggly and blobby and the snail or slug, slithered around creating a silky net of mucous on the scratchy carpet, inching its way up to the bench, and winding its way back.
Sophia L age 7 in LS3 Westmere School
The Only Amber Dragon
There was once an amber dragon She lives in a dungeon She eats meat during the day and during the night she sleeps and hunts for food. Her eyes are dark as midnight. If you see her, you’ll get a fright! Her scales are hard as rock and bright as the sun.
Olivia, age 9, French unit, Richmond Rd School
Zapricorn
He has pointy teeth, turned up toes And a big pointy horn behind his nose.
He lives in a hole under a tree All in the dark with nothing to see.
Awake at night, asleep at day All in waiting to find his prey.
Tallulah K, age 9, Richmond Road School, L’Archipel
Sounds Of Autumn
Warm blasts of foreign air Carrying the scent of fresh fruit. Dust flying Leaves shuffling Bushes rustling Action everywhere. Puddles swish Muddy mush The wind’s gush Just look.
Ameer, age 9, Y5, Ilam School
Small things
Small things we don’t notice, In the garden, in the house, in the library, Seeds as small as ants in the garden, Dust in the house, Spider webs like thread in the library. Small things we don’t notice, In the grass, in the bed, in the classroom, Shiny as diamonds are bugs in the grass, Hair on the bed, Yummy as chocolate are crumbs in the classroom. Small things we don’t notice, We should notice them.
The Nature Activity Book, Rachel Haydon and Pippa Keel, Te Papa Press
I recently sang the praises of the extremely wonderful The Nature Activity Bookon Poetry Box and said it filled me with a galaxy of poem ideas.
Elephant Sand
The grey sand at Te Henga beach
wrinkles and crumples
like elephant skin.
I listen for trumpets and rumbles,
but all I hear is the sweet cheep
of the scuttery dotterel.
Paula Green (inspired by Patterns in Nature)
So for September I am creating some poem challenges based on ideas in the book. You can pick one or more. Thanks to Te Papa Press I have up to four books to give awayto young poets whose writing really catches my attention.
I suggest you don’t send your poems / artwork the day you write but wait for a week and see if you’d like to change anything. I think part of being a writer is letting things simmer and then seeing how the flavours change in a few days time.
The tip for these challenges is to GO OUTSIDE and explore, using all your senses, rather than imagining. This is when science and poetryjoin hands and you use words to show what you discover as a nature explorer. Two challenges get you to use your IMAGINATION.
You might like to do a drawing, comic strip or painting to go with your poem.
I will read all your poems at the end of the month and write a letter back to you.
DEADLINE: 28th September
The Challenges
Sound scavenging
Find a place to sit and scavenge for sounds. It might be in your garden, a park, a paddock, in the bush or when you go the beach.
Write down all the sounds you can hear.
Beside each sound find words to describe the sound, what it reminds you of.
Now use your sound collection to make a poem. The sound will help the place where you are sitting come alive in the poem.
Patterns in nature
Nature is full of glorious patterns.
I love walking on the beach and hunting for patterns (see my elephant poem).
You can find patterns on leaves, insects, animals, honeycomb, sand, bark, plants, shells, spiders webs.
Find a pattern in nature that fascinates you.
Jot down words as you look and discover.
Try writing a little poem that explores the pattern.
Little things
Hunt for some little objects. You might like to study them with a magnifying glass.
You could hunt for tiny seeds, marbles, nuts, flowers, pebbles, grass blades …
Beside each object jot down what you see and what you feel when you touch it.
Look at the colours, patterns, shapes, textures.
You might go hunting for similes.
How many words can you jot down beside each thing.
Now use your discoveries to write a poem.
It might be about one object or several. Over to you!
Listen to your poem.
Underline the words that shine on the line.
Mythical habitats
A habitat is the place where an animal lives in nature.
This is a chance to use your IMAGINATION!
Make up a habitat for an imaginary creature.
Jot down what the habitat looks like. You could even sketch it to help picture it.
What plants, animals, water, weather might you find? What is the land like?
If you shut your eyes what would you hear?
What movement do you see?
Now use your imagination to write a poem about your habitat.
Your poem might tell a story.
It might be like a photo of the place.
Mythical beasts
Stories are treasure troves of mythical beasts: think of dragons and phoenixes, griffins, yetis and unicorns.
Invent your own mythical beast. You might like to draw it to help picture it.
Lost Wonders: Vanished Creatures of Aotearoa Sarah Ell, illustrated by Phoebe Morris, Allen & Unwin 2020
A few weeks ago I hosted the online launch of Lost Wonders. To celebrate I invited you to write some poems on the lost wonders of Aotearoa. Daniel sent in this fabulous poem. Thanks to Allen & Unwin, he was sent a copy of the book!
The Haast Eagle
It’s wingspan causes wonders
Like a p-terrifying pterodactyl
It’s talons cut like butcher’s knife
Through firm leathery skin
The moa cannot survive
But in a twist of fate
The eagle extinguishes it’s own flame
As without the moa
The Haast Eagle cannot survive
As I wander through the native bush now
I’m a little glad those things are no longer alive
Daniel L, Age11, Year 7, Hadlow School
I got to thinking about how wonder is such a good ingredient for a poem. So I am challenging you to use wonder as the stepping off point for a poem.
Sky High
Imagine building a Lego
tower so high spiders crawl
to the very top to make
webs that float like clouds.
Paula Green
You could write about a lost wonder of Aotearoa.
You could write about a lost wonder of the world.
You could wonder about something that puzzles you in your poem.
You could wonder about something that surprises you in your poem.
You could wonder about something that challenges you in your poem.
You could begin with a question and get wondering.
You could write about something you have seen or heard that fills you with wonder.
You could write about one of the seven wonders of the world.
You are welcome to include an illustration.
With permission from a parent you are welcome to send an audio (MP3 or MP4) or video(YouTube link or Vimeo)
I think wonder in a poem is a bit like wandering – I sometimes wander and a poem slowly forms in my head. That happens when I write too. I don’t know what is going to happen next. I love the way a poem can be a way of discovering.
TIP: Listen to your poem when you have finished it.
TIP: Leave your poem for at least a day and see what you would like to change.
TIP: Try three different endings -which is your favourite
TIP: Do the same with beginnings.
TIP: Have fun!
DEADLINE:Friday 26th June
send to paulajoygreen@gmail.com
please include your name age and name of school
don’t forget to put WONDERchallenge in subject line so I don’t miss it
don’t put your surname on drawings or paintings or collages (Poetry Box policy)
I will post on June 30thand will have at least one book to give away (this is not a competition, I just like giving books away). I answer your emails at the end of the month.
This is Bethells Beach, Te Henga, where I can now drive to early in the morning. Usually there are hardly any people at that time, but now there are a few surfers, runners, dog walkers, strollers, daydreamers, super-fast walkers … and loads of shore birds. There is heaps of room. I often get ideas when I am walking. They roll about in my head like little waves.
Today I invite you to watch the video (under 2 minutes!). I have at least one book to give away.
Jot down everything that pops into your head as you watch the ocean.
Use your eyes and ears!
Choose one thing you have written down as a SPRINGBOARD to a poem.
Play with how the words RIPPLE on the line.
Play with how the lines LOOK on the page.
Say your poem out loud and listen to the movement of the words.
LEAVE YOUR POEM FOR AT LEAST ONE DAY.This is poem 1.
After a few days (or one day) write a new version of the poem. Add something new into the poem.
It might be from the list of things you jotted down.
It might be something surprising!
It might be your own beach memory.
It might be someone doing something.
It might be a bird doing something.
You might hear something different.
It might be something surprising you spot in the sand.
YOU CHOOSE!
This is poem 2
Make sure you give the poems titles. You can illustrate them. You could use coloured pencils, crayons, felt pens, paint.
send to paulajoygreen@gmail.com
please includeyour name age and name of school
don’t forget to put NAME OFchallenge in subject line so I don’t miss it
don’t put your surname on drawings or paintings or collages (Poetry Box policy)
There is no deadline while we are living in our bubbles! Every Friday I will post some work by children.
I will always answer your emails but not straightaway. If I haven’t replied after 3 or 4 days nudge me as I may have missed it.
I will have at least one book to give away each Friday.
You can also try these Poetry Box activities. Click on links below:
Read Richard Langston’s lighthouse and tree poems and write as though you are something /someone else.
Listen to Paula read her cats poems and offer cat and things-that-wake-you-in-night activities
Listen to Elena de Roo’s BIRD poems and try my Bird challenge
I really lovethese two poems by Richard Langstonand thought it would be cool
to write a poem as though you are something else.
The possibilities are endless:
a train, plane, ant, tiger, cat, cup, crayon, the sun, the moon, stars, clouds, a puddle, traffic lights, a tree, a flower, the wind, a mountain, a river, the ocean, a monster, a zebrodile, a letterbox .. you choose!
You can play with how your poem sits on the page.
Will you use dialogue?
Will there be another character?
You will have to wonder what it is like to be something else!
You can include a drawing or painting if you like! Or do a comic strip.
send to paulajoygreen@gmail.com
please include your name age and name of school
don’t forgetto put NAME OFchallenge in subject line so I don’t miss it
don’t put your surname on drawings or paintings or collages (Poetry Box policy)
There is no deadlinewhile we are living in our bubbles! Every Friday I will post some work by children.
I will always answer your emails but not straightaway. If I haven’t replied after 3 or 4 days nudge me as I may have missed it.
I will have at least one book to give away each Friday.
You can also try these Poetry Box activities. Click on links below:
Listen to Paula read her cats poems and offer cat and things-that-wake-you-in-night activities
Listen to Elena de Roo’s BIRD poems and try my Bird challenge
Last night at about 2 am our cat Agile started howling in the hallway so our other cat Charlie joined in. I don’t know know what they wanted but they wouldn’t stop. They hailed and wailed until about 4.30 am and I just couldn’t get to sleep. Now those two ragamuffin cats are fast asleep. Charlie is on his bubble wrap under the kitchen table (listen to the poem!) and Agile is asleep on a chair.
Not me! I can’t go to sleep now. I decided the ragamuffin cats were cold and hated the stormy night because when I turned the heater on they were happy.
The other night an army of mozzies kept me awake from about 2 until 5! Buzzing around my face and dive bombing me.
One night it was the RAIN thumping on the roof that woke me up.
This has been my week of not very much sleep at all. I am imagining there is a big bucket on the deck full of sleep. You can reach in and pull out a sleep cloak and hey presto you have a good night’s sleep before you can say SLEEPADOODLEDO!
So I am going to read you a few of my CAT poemsbecause I LOVE writing cat poems. They are out of my book The Letterbox Cat (I have a copy to give at least one child who tries a challenge below).
Paula reads ‘Cat Naps’, ‘The Letterbox Cat’ and ‘Night Cat’
Paula reads ‘The Greedy Cat’
Two activities for you
Cat things
write a poem about your pet cat
write a poem about your pet cat doing something they have never done before
write a poem about an imaginary pet cat
write a poem about cat for someone who has never seen a cat
write a poem about a pet cat and their best friend
write a poem about a pet cat who gets lots (our one did!)
or any cat poem you like!
draw or paint your cat or do a comic strip
Things that wake you in the night
write a poem about something that wakes in the night
write a poem about something invented that wakes you in the night
write a poem about the stormiest night ever
write a poem about a cat that wakes you in the night
h a v e f u n !!!!
send to paulajoygreen@gmail.com
please includeyour name age and name of school
don’t forget to put NAMEOF challenge in subject line so I don’t miss it
don’t put your surname on drawings or paintings or collages (Poetry Box policy)
There is no deadline while we are living in our bubbles! Every Friday I will post some work by children.
I will always answer your emails but not straightaway. If I haven’t replied after 3 or 4 days nudge me as I may have missed it.
I will have at least one book to give away each Friday.
You can also try these Poetry Box activities. Click on links below:
Listen to Elena de Roo’s BIRD poems and try my Bird challenge
