National Poetry Day | 26 August

 Look who has had their writing featured on Toitoi's social media for National Poetry Day! Congratulations Blake, you're famous!

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

Happy National Poetry Day!

Watch this space for more amazing poems

from our Russley writers!

 

Unleash the Power of Poetry

Enjoy these poems from our Russley Writers... inspired by Apirana Taylor's poem, Haka.

Here is Apirana Taylor's poem...

Laughing 

When I hear laughter

I feel it in my veins 

and in my heart 

it spreads like a song 

it makes my smile grow

it is the yodel of a young girl

the grin of a mischievous pixie

a bag of peppermints

and the joy of life

it is the crisp of leaves

hee hee hee

By Madeleine Hicks | 13yrs | Year 8

Rain in the Night | Sienna Burgess | 12 years | Year 8

when i hear rain in the night

i feel the pitter patter sing me off to sleep

the rhythm tapping into my bones.

breaking the deadly silence

making the endless skies pour with emotion

it is the lullaby of the sky 

the song of the owl

and musicall of the darkness

it is a puddle maker

a mood shaker

pitter patter pitter patter on and on

Forest Wind | By Abby Brown | 12yrs | Year 8 

when i hear the wind 

i feel it in my stomach

and my lungs

the song of the trees

flutters through the woods

it makes my toes curl

and my shoulders tense

it is the dancing of the leaves

the forest breathing

and the birds voice

it is sky's calling

WWWHOOOOOSSSSSHHHH

Whooshing wind | by Morgan Campbell | age 9yrs | Year 5

When I hear the rushing wind
Smack my bedroom wall
I feel it  down my spine
the cold breeze hits me
through my open window

It makes me shiver and shake
I hide my head under my covers
It is a screeching laughing owl
a sneaky thief
and a smooth flute
It is a spooky spirit
shhh shhh shhh

Rain Falling | by Millie Sutton | Awa Nui

When I hear... the rain falling from the sky
I feel it...rushing down my body
It makes...a shiver down my spine

It is needles and nails
and Lego clicking together
It is tinfoil crackling

Click click click clap
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh

When I hear the soccer ball crashing | by Annabelle Kang | Team Roto

When I hear the soccer ball crashing
into my mums makeup
I feel my heart beat faster
 than sprinting in cross country
It makes my lips clutch together
it is my mum wagging her finger
and a dinner without dessert
It is the end of my precious young life
KKKKKKKKKLLLLLLLAAAAAAANNNNNNEEEERRRRRAAAAAAANNNNNNGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I hear the Sound of a Rumbling Car | by Finn Beedie | Team Roto

When I hear the sound of a rumbling car engine 

my eyes light up
I feel it in veins
It makes my heart beat rapidly
It is so loud that I almost have a heart attack
It is a lion roaring
It is a heavy metal bands concert
It is godzilla stomping
 

CRACK! | by James De Wit | Team Roto

when i hear the crack of my mum’s vase
i feel goosebumps racing
up my body like cockroaches
it makes me crouch
ready to run
my muscles tense
my heart pumps  
it is no ipad time
and a stern telling off
it is a shaking fist
bechoooooooeeeeoo!

Gong | by Oliver Peters | Team Roto

when i hear the gong,
i feel it in my veins
it makes the hairs
on the back of my neck bristle
and my eyes flash
it is a rising, scaley cobra
it is war ending
it is a japanese warrior
and lightning flashing
Gooooooeeeeng

Earthquake! | by Samuel Li | Team Roto

when i hear the earthquake
i feel it in my nerves
it makes my mouth open
and my hands sweat
it is the crack of mountains
and the roads dividing
into a massive choco bar  
it is the water rising
it is a close call

drop, cover, hold!  

Here is a video from way back in 2014, when Russley School hosted a National Poetry Tour. We had some famous writers such as Paula Green, Bill Nagelkerke and Gavin Bishop join us... and some of our students performed some poems by NZ authors.

Go to 12.02 and watch our students perform their version of the poem Haka by Apirana Taylor. A very stirring performance!

Happy National Poetry Day!

21 August is National Poetry Day. A great time to celebrate all the awesome poetry being created at Russley School by our very talented writers.

Here are some spoken word poems from our clever Team Roto writers: