Poetry Box interviews: Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School interviews Bee Trudgeon

Some of our writers were selected for a spot of journalism. We had think of some questions to ask librarian/poet Bee Trudgeon for an interview. The questions were sent to Bee and have been published along with her answers on the Poetry Box website.

As well as coming up with some interesting questions, our writers also had to write their own author bio. For most of them this was a first, and probably just as much fun as doing the interview!

You can read all their questions, bios and Bee's wonderful answers on the Poetry Box website below.

Congratulations to our budding journalists:

Adrianna P

Noah F

Taylor H

Beau

Lilly

Emily T

Maggie F

Angela

Click HERE to go to POETRY BOX

Bee Trudgeon is a poet and the Children’s Librarian Kaitiaki Pukapuka Tamariki at Porirua Libraries. 

Poems picked by Paula for Poetry Box!

Our October challenge was to write a poem on the theme of 'WONDER'.

Some of our writers composed poems expressing their 'wonder' at the world around them. Some wrote 'list poems', with a list of things, places and people they think are wonderful. Some wrote questioning, wondering, puzzling poems. Some were odes to a particular place or activity. 

Paula chose some of her favourites to publish on Poetry Box. Here they are:

Wonderful Things 

Loud waves crashing
against the shore
Dark black dog fur
covers the couch head to toe
Cold ice tea, swishes
around in my glass
Sweet smell of pelargoniums
just a few feet away  
As I walk along the sand
it gets stuck in between my toes

Adrianna P, Age 13, Y8, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School  

The Most Wonderful Things

The taste of nana’s cheese scones melting on my tongue
Grandma’s cookies
The love from a miniature schnauzer bringing joy to my day
The way the glistening snow tickles my palms
The tickle of shallow waves hugging my ankles
The smell of grandma’s delightful roses in her garden
Heavy rain hitting my roof as I drift off to sleep
The heat of hot popcorn on a movie night

Morgan C, Age:12, Y7, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

Going to the Beach

I watch the glittering waves
crashing on the beach
with Granny

I carefully lift the bucket off
the delicate sandcastle

I place some clam shells
and a little red flag
at the top

Maia S, age 7, Year 3, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

Wonder List

The smell of freshly cut grass
Booming thunder in the dark night

Mouth watering, chicken rice ball
with fresh avocado laid out on the table
Bacon crackling in the oily pan

The scent of pure white lilies dipped
into water standing perfectly

Ruby W, Age: 11, Y7, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

WONDER

I lie in my bed listening to the crisp rain and thunder
Soothing jazz makes me fall asleep
The scent of my grandma’s fresh cooked salmon
The milo sitting on the counter while the jug boils
The constant thought of a capybara being my pet.
I lie with all of these dreams

James Q, age 11, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

Wonder 

The sound of the rev limiter crackling and sparking
the sparkle of shiny chrome
the smell of gasoline

Taylor H, Year 7, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

My List of Wonderful Things

feathery penguins waddling across a vast landscape
unexplored jungles with tangly vines

flying to Africa to see lions and majestic flamingoes
riding a giant eagle across a vast desert

eating an icecream
with 9 scoops of goody goody gumdrops dipped in chocolate

Isabelle H, age 7, Year 3, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

Wonderful Cats

Cute, fluffy tips poke out at me
as I gently touch a wet, soft nose\

leaping, frolicking

eyes shining a warm welcome
this amazing kitty steals my attention

like a snake she slithers to my
hand playfully

a fluffy paw bats a butterfly
this way and that

Victoria P, age 8yrs, Year 4, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

Wonder

My hand sinks into the fluffy soft fur
of a red fox

I lie down on dry grass
filled with flowers

Tulips, marigolds, daisies and
lady’s slippers
fill the air with their sweet scent

rain drops fall from a dark cloudy sky

I squeeze my soft teddy
it feels like cotton candy

Bella Z, age 9yrs, Year 4, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

Watching the Moon

Watching the glistening moon
stare blankly
as it slowly rises
lightening the starry sky

I see silvery stars shining brightly
forming pictures and shapes

I feel the cool breeze sweep past me
swirling around

Slowly I fall
asleep

Angela Z, age 7, Year 3, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

Ode to a Vegetable

What's an Ode?

An ode is a very old form of poetry. In ancient Greece, poets wrote odes to celebrate heroes, nations, ideas and nature. These days odes are more informal and are often funny. They can be any length, and rhymed or not. The ode is a poem of praise (a bit like a love letter!), addressed to a person, place, object or an idea.

We hope you enjoy the odes written during the writing workshop with author Belinda O'Keefe. Look out for the juicy language, alliteration, rhyme and similes.

Ode to a Lemon
by Hollie, age 10

Oh! You sweet sour glorious lemon.
When I rest I think of your zest.
I love the sourness and tastiness.
You’re as bright as the sun, my hun.
When people’s faces squirt
I take as an alert
there’s someone that does not like lemon
to them it must be venom.
I love it when I see you be put on my family’s fish
it has to be their absolute favourite dish.
Never fear lemon's here!


Ode to Corn

by Adrianna P, age 10

I love how your skin is like a yellow giraffe
your smooth soft texture drives me crazy.
Your taste is sweet and juicy

I love it when my Dad
puts you in hot water
and deep fries you!

I also like it when he puts you on my plate
then I eat you and feel
warm as an oven.

I love you, corn!


Ode to a Purple Kumara
by Ava

Oh! glorious kumara
your skin is like a fresh purple grape
you have a couple of roots
that look like your hair
you smell like an asteroid from outer space
you look like a purple little mouse
that always gets stuck in a house

I can mash you, roast you, and even burn you
we can grate you, hate you or even rate you
your texture is like a bumpy pink petal
floating down through the air

Do you like kumara?
Can you compare?
Because I like kumara and hopefully you like kumara too
So listen loud and clear
Please eat your vegetables, kumara and never fear
because kumara is here


Ode to Potato

by Hugo

Oh potato, you have spots on you
like the moon.

You’re as yellow as the sun,
spots as grey as stone.

You’re eaten mashed, fried,
but don’t forget fries.

On Thanksgiving you’d be perfect
with turkey.


Ode to a Cucumber
by William B

Oh! You beautiful vegetable
Your skin is as rough as the bark on a tree
You’re dark green, but light on the inside
It reminds me of the bright leaves in summer
Your crunch is as loud as the leaves in winter
the knife glides through you
like a soft loud or cotton candy
and as I take a bite
the only sound you hear is CRUNCH!


Ode to a Potato
Riley M

Oh! You luscious potato
You’re yellow as the sun on a cloudless day
Your thin skin
is as scarred as a stuntman

the mud is as brown as tree bark
dotted on you like a kid that fell
over in the field

Fried, roasted, baked, pretty much anything
I can eat you with everything I want

You taste like seasoned heaven
or flavoured life


Ode to a Pumpkin
by Payton, age 9yrs
The smooth sensation, the roundness of a soccer ball
oh how heavy
very heavy as a weight,
all the seeds, the bright orange
as bright as a light
oh the strong smell when it’s cooked.

But the smell, oh how revolting
as yuck as a pair of socks

BUT the awesome carvings
at Halloween
Oh! Oh!
How extravagant!


Oh Yam!
by Sophie E, age 9yrs

Oh! Yam!
Your skin feels like a bumpy book of bible verses
Your dark red colour looks like blood
Your silent way you lay there
makes me wonder
if you will ever move
(even with a hint of magic).
Are you best mashed? Boiled? Roasted?
I can’t wait to try!

Ode to a Cabbage
by Sophie H. age 10

Oh! Cabbage, your wrinkles in your skin
are like an old piece of scrunched paper.
You’re as soft as a moth
as crunchy as a cracker.
You’re as heavy as a brick
you’re as green as a bean.
Are you best cooked fried, baked, heated
or fresh from the bag?

Ocean Poetry from Adrianna

THE CRYSTAL SEA
by Adrianna P.

The sea is like blue crystals
The sea floor like rocks
The sand is soft, like marshmallows on your toes
Seagulls yell at each other like siblings
When I look at the sea
it makes me smile