Moana's Spoken Word

Team Moana has also been experimenting with oral poetry. We each contributed a word or words to the poem and spoke the poem, rather than writing it down.

This one about the beach was so cool however, that I just had to grab a pen and scribble it down.

Untitled

spiky crabs 

pinching like pliers

rough driftwood floating

like boats

smooth seashells

glistening in the sun

by Meagan, Khadija, Ella, Jada & Mekhi

Photo credit: P. Koster

Newly published authors in fingers comma toes

Congratulations to three brilliant authors who have had their writing published on the international online literary journal, fingers comma toes.

Thunder – Lily O’Halloran

Thunder sounds like the clouds
are banging together and
fighting.

Thunder sounds like
drumming monkeys.

When I hear thunder
I hide
under my blanket.

Lily O’Halloran is eight years old, and lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Wild – Khadija Sheikh

skin, silky smooth skin
venomous teeth sharp as knives
eyes pitch black
it slides through bladed grass
waiting for its prey

Khadija Sheikh is eleven years old, and lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.

When I Walk into the Jungle – Robbie de Groot-Tsuji

When I walk into the jungle,
thick vines block my way.
Tall trees climbing to get to the sun.
Snakes striking
at the sneakiest possible moment.

The cassowary is fast, but
when you turn to look at him
he’s gone.

When I walk into the jungle,
I taste the sweet, sweet air
and smell the smell of rain.

The birds sound like
The Puppy Concerto
on the piano.

When I walk into the jungle,
I feel calm
like a sloth.

Robbie de Groot-Tsuji is ten years old, and lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Authors to be Published in fingers comma toes

Three more Russley writers have had their poetry accepted for publication. This time, by fingers comma toes. This is an online, international journal.  Although the journal doesn't publish a print edition, it is a highly respected online publication, and as they take submissions from writers all over the world (up to the age of 25), it is a fantastic achievement to be accepted. This issue was for a piece of writing on the theme of Wild.

Many of our writers sent entries in, and it amazed me how many different variations and interpretations there were of the theme. We had wild animals, wild places, wild weather, wild beaches and even wild teachers!

Well done to everyone who entered, and special congratulations to these authors, who will have their poems published in fingers comma toes later this month:

Khadija Sheikh - Wild

Robbe de Groot - When I Walk Into The Jungle

Lily O'Hallaran - Thunder