Exciting times — there are still a few days left to submit your poem for Tūhono 2021, our poetry journal for children and teens in Wellington. This year the theme is “whakaata | reflection” — and we’ve already seen some amazing poems come through. Note: submissions for Tūhono 2021 have now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted.
To help give you some inspiration, we thought we would share with you some of our favourite poems from last year’s volume, Tūhono 2020. Read on, and prepare to be blown away!
1. My Butterfly Journey — Ronan, age 5
My Butterfly JourneyI can’t move
I’m in a chrysalis
I will have butterfly powers when I come outI will go where the butterflies go
I will lay eggs
Then I will dieThe caterpillar will do the journey back home
— Ronan, age 5
2. The Verselet Tree — Amelia, age 9
The Verselet TreeWise, knowing and smart,
When I sit beneath you I feel safe,
warm and comforted this feeling makes
me want to drift off in a slow and
steady sleep,
but before I do, a thought comes to my
mind,
the thought grows as I sleep,
When I wake the thought has formed
into a poem.
As I wander home,
I think of the poem and decide to write
it down,
And then I will go back and get
another poem from you.— Amelia, age 9
3. Connection — Jericho, age 11
ConnectionI have a connection to music,
as if it’s part of my life,
as it follows the beat of my heart,
over and over again.
It lives deep inside me,
it burns inside my heart,
as an eternal flame,
raging on inside of me.
It shocks my soul,
It runs thru my body,
It harmonises my life,
As if when I listen to it
all fear and pain go away.
Music electrifies my very existence.— Jericho, age 11
4. Connected — Pemma, age 12
ConnectedA thread, a rope,
The invisible link between us all,
Connected by soul,
The whispering call.Shining stars twinkle above,
Our ancestors watching,
With the eye of the crescent moon.Nature’s melody,
The sweet birds,
Our link with Papatūānuku
Has always been heard.A thread, a rope,
A quiet trail,
Linked together, connected.— Pemma, age 12
5. Little One — Rajvi, age 5
Little OneGo to sleep little one
no need to cry
we will be there for you forever ……
oh my baby
go to sleep little one ….
O ho ho ……
Just go to sleep little one— Rajvi, age 5 (written on 15/10/20 for her younger brother, born on 11/10/20)
