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/

Taniwha writing

 Here are some awesome taniwha drawings and descriptions by some wonderful Team Roto Writers, inspired by Monica Koster's illustrations in Tama and the Taniwha.

My taniwha has long, colourful, shiny hair. Its skin is green, pink and purple, like a rainbow. It has two horns like a devil. It has sharp teeth and three green legs. Its long tail is as shiny as two gold coins. It tells terrible jokes and does roly polys in the water. It also floats like a starfish in the clear water.

by Hollie

Green and purple hair flows with the current like seaweed. The belly is sparkly ilke a polished amethyst. She swims next to majestic eels. She tells bad jokes and skips stones on the surface of the glistening water.

by Piper

My taniwha's hair is as colourful as a rainbow. Her unicorn horn is as sharp as teeth. Her crystal neck is as shiny as glitter. The taniwha tells horrible jokes.

by Kylie

Sky Poems Published on Poetry Box

Our Russley Writers have had a cluster of beautiful sky poems selected by NZ poet Paula Green and published on her website, Poetry Box.

Congratulations to:

Kylie G

Millie S

Hayley C

Agrima K

Aoife

Kelvin

Joshua K

Mason

Anna F

Alfie

Bridget

Tenushki

Kiaan

Maia S

You can read their poems at the link below.

https://nzpoetrybox.wordpress.com/2023/08/30/poetry-box-poems-by-children-sky-poems-from-te-parito-kowhai-russley-school/