Given Word Poems

Here are some more poems written by some talented Russley poets for the Given Word Challenge for National Poetry Day.

The poems had to include five given words (in either English, te reo Māori or a mix of both):

pō / dusk

hau / breath

tūpuna / ancestors

hiki / raise

karoro / black-backed gull

Here's my pick of the best entries from our Russley Writers:

* * *

Whakangā

Dusk fell 

but still she carried on

A misty cloud of breath escaping her rosy lips

Stories of her tūpuna filled her mind

Raising her head

she gazed at the golden specks

that filled the dark sky 

Jolting back into reality she turned to leave

Halting to survey the beach,

noticing a large, flaxen legged karoro

stepping tentatively through the damp, taupe sand

Oblivious to everything but this moment

- by Ruby Jones Johnston, Year 8

* * *

Papatūānuku

The black-backed gulls glide in the creamy blue rangi, 

back to the nests at pō.

We wander at the seaside, 

listening to the sound of crashing waves,

hide my feet in the dark blue water,

take a breath of fresh air, 

go back home when we are tired. 

We share the land of Papatūānuku.

She raised everybody,

our beloved tūpuna.

- by Patricia Chen

Year 3

* * *

Karoro

as the sky turned

from blue to amber

at dusk

the karoro soared

through the sunset

gracefully

with the breath

of its tūpuna

on its wings.

hiki tall

karoro,

raise up.

- by Max Jones Johnston

Year 4

* * *

Te mutunga of their dreams

From dusk 

and into the long lonely nights 

our brave tūpuna conquer 

the endless ocean.

Drawing their first hau 

of the early morning, 

they slowly hiki their sleepy sails, 

and know triumph. 

As they see the glorious karoro 

coat as smoky grey as the glistening ocean 

soaring above them 

and the land they dreamed of.

- by Ila Rutherfurd

Year: 4

And here is Eabha's beautiful poem again, in case you missed it:

Manu

at dusk

he stands proudly by the dock 

just like the nights before,

his cold eyes watch the sea 

thinking of his ancestors and loved ones

I see the black-backed gull

raise his wings 

the colour of night 

and take flight 

chasing the fading sun

I'll hold my breath 

till he returns here tomorrow 

at dusk

- by Eabha Dalton

Year 8