Poetry Box | Object Poems

Our final writing challenge for the year was Paula Green's Object Poem. Each of our writers picked an inanimate object that was meaningful to them and wrote a poem inspired by it.

The objects ranged from special items of jewellery to toys and musical instruments and even a traffic light!

Congratulations to all our writers who took the plunge and gave this challenge a try. Paula has picked some of the poems she received to publish on Poetry Box. Special mention to Liama and Sanuthi who Paula has chosen to send one of her poetry books to. Well done!

https://nzpoetrybox.wordpress.com/2024/12/10/poetry-box-poems-by-children-objects/

Bernadette S. age 10,

sitting on a shelf
the cat basks in sunlight
black glass sparkling

Bernadette S. age 10, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

the globe perches on the desk
spinning around and around
my finger lands on Mexico

Kimberly B. age 9, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

one pair of shoes
for walking and running
dirty holes and tangled laces

Liama L. age 10, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

roller skates in my wardrobe
I’m searching
for another pair of shoes

Kylie G, age 8, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

Great Nana June’s Bracelet

rusty like an old car
golden like a one dollar coin
delicate like a twig
it reminds me of her

Harper B, age 9, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

Blank Paper

white like santa’s beard
fresh like a new bud
parched like a desert

it is but paper
waiting for a pencil
to disturb its surface

by Katherine L, age 9, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

Tonga

Tonga
a beautiful island
sits above the water

palm trees
surround the country
coconuts cling onto branches

the pacific ocean
crystal clear

a monstrous wave sprints to shore

Sisilia L. age 9, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

I bought a traffic light
my very own traffic light
a five year old kid’s dream

Sam M. age 9, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

A pencil has a limited life.
Life gets shorter when sharpened.
If ever sharpened to the end, life runs out.

Kelvin M. age 9, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

the soft touch of the dolphin
that came from Japan
the reminder of my grandparents in Tokushima

Karin M. age 11, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

Guitar

in my case my guitar
with memories like gold
memories
when I played my first song to my dad
on his special day
with love

when I was nine
on my special day
my dad brought me my own guitar

Sanuthi G. age 11, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

my school bag

my school bag
I see it every single day
since I was six  
it’s fluffy and pink
I don’t want another school bag

Bhaarati S. age 10, Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School

Poetry Box Family Story Poems

 Congratulations to these writers who had their family story poems picked to be published on Poetry Box!

Kylie

Katherine

Bernadette

Kimberly

Harper

Sisilia

In addition, Paula is sending a book prize to Kylie, Sisilia and Kimberly. You can read their poems at the link below:

https://nzpoetrybox.wordpress.com/2024/12/04/poetry-box-poems-by-children-family-stories/

Check out our library themed poetry and readings on Paula Green's Poetry Box website!

Poetry Box

Students from Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School read poems by Paula Green, Bill Manhire and Doc Drumheller. You can listen to them at the link above. Thanks to Amber, Zoe, Adeleyn, Max, Ayla, Emily H.

Some of our writers composed poems about our school library and these were published on Poetry Box.

Sparkling Universe

I open the door
and the wonderful smell of books
draws me in.

Characters creep
out of their books
longing to bring me into their world.

I want to find out
about tales of girls and their horses
running from home
and dangerous adventures
across sparkling ice.

The magic of books
fills my lungs
as I open a book the world
turns off like a lamp
and I am transported
to another universe.

by Bernadette S, 9 years old

The Library

The library is full of magical forests
fairies flying over sparkly bridges
where greedy ogres wait

unicorns with shiny horns
dogs barking at villains
cats hissing at disguised bag guys
shrinking girls climbing hay bales

and me,
in the library pit,
reading

by Mea (age 7) and Scarlett (age 8)

I walked into the school library and saw

robot dinos fighting,
a taniwha hovering around,
Lego people building,
a bunny hopping…
and my friends fainting!

by Bodhi Hill (age 7)

In the exciting library is

a greedy goblin
and a Star Wars robot
and the little yellow digger
and a giant Lego castle
and an evil scientist with its evil puppy
and the giant titanic
with a cat riding on it
and a giant green army
a cackly ghost
and a skydiver jumping out of a plane.
But… poor Mrs McCreanor…
she is getting chased
by a creeper!
Aaaaaah!

by Theo P, age 8

Party in the Library

Partying in the library is…
a giant taniwha boogying like cray
Baa Baa Black Belt chopping trees the size of mountains
and the little yellow digger
and a big T-Rex fossil
and Mrs McCreanor is…
running out!

by Lachlan H, age 7

In the dark library, there is

a humongous pirate
with a green and purple taniwha

and a tiny black ant
a humongous blue whale

and a scary big witch with a wand
and a yellow little digger

Mrs McCreanor is FREAKING OUT!

by Nico Meek (age 7)

In the Library

The library is a free place to be
surrounded by books
with stinky pirates ruling the land
big giants breaking down buildings
mysterious fairies hiding behind pages
the brave taniwha chasing the tuna
and Mrs McCreanor going crazy

by Bailey M, age 9

The library

The library is a gateway to a land of witches
riding on their dusty broomsticks
or a place in Rio where the bluebirds roam the land
or even the thrill of a green and purple taniwha chasing after you
and fairies helping Mrs McCreanor issue books
with their fairy dust.

Meera Sharma age 10

A Library is a Gateway

A library is a gateway
to a land of evil and goodness
where spells and battles happen.

A library is a gateway
to lead you into the 1400s
which was the time of olden castles
where there is a simple life for everyone.

There could be giants
when the library leads you deeper down
into the viscous chapter of World War One.
into the second chapter of the horrific World War Two.

The library leads you much deeper down
into the beginning of the old smoky 21 century
and even much deeper down you arrive at the brand new 21 century
where new vehicle arrivals enter are hybrids and electric.

And finally we are at the last adventure in the library
where we get to know how
will things look like in the future.

By Ammar, Year 5 age 10

Published in Toitoi #32

Congratulations to our newest published authors! These talented writers have just received their copies of the latest Toitoi journal containing their awesome mahi.

Well done to Ila, Porou, Kahurangi, Ned, Jack and Bernadette!

Soon to be Published!

 We are eagerly awaiting the publication of Toitoi 32! Some talented Russley writers have had their writing selected for publication. They are...

Jack N - for his piece about the Easter Bunny

Bernadette S - for her poem titled 'Autumn Breeze'

Ned P - for 'In Grandad's Shed'

Kahurangi R - for his piece titled 'Pods'

Porou R - for his piece titled 'Kahurangi'

Ila R - for her beautiful piece about her great grandmother, 'Irene Kibblewhite'

Toitoi 32 is going to print now and will be available early in Term 3. Exciting!