Matariki Poems
- schoolforyoungwrit
- Jun 19
- 5 min read
Matariki — a time for reflection, remembrance, renewal, and celebration of whanau. Poet, Gail Ingram, encouraged young poets to look to the stars, reflect on family and engage their imaginations as they created their Matariki Poems.
Here are some of the gems that resulted from two workshops with young writers over the last week.
Earth grandmother
My grandma is a calm tree,
embracing the wind.
She is a kind loving flower,
blooming with passion.
Her warm branch arms hold me,
spoiling me with love.
She loves hiking, biking
up the hills when the sun is out.
Her soft red hair brushes
across my face like
a gust of wind.
Her leaves are a beautiful green
I love her no matter
what the weather is.
Lottie Year 6
Star shards
Watching the ember red flag
scratching the dirt ready to charge
his eyes locked shimmering like star shards
horns like blades waiting to pierce through your skin
stamping his hind leg, he charges.
Maya Year 8
The Tears that Paint a Story
In loving memory of Jan Anderson
Life goes on
Time won't stop.
Life courses through the blood
in our veins, veins like streams.
Your paintings adorning our walls bring a tear
to my eye. The blood in my veins, the blood from yours
paints a story of my life, a story of trust, struggle, and heartbreak.
Our lives different but one in the same. The tears now thrashing
in my eyes like currents crashing against rocks. As we mourn
your departure from our world, I stand solemnly waiting
till we meet again. Our tears transparent,
shine light on our lives, on our fates
as I wait for the day, my time
runs out, and we
meet again.
Genevieve Year 8
Her fire in me
My mum is warm and passionate,
glowing with light.
Her toasted amber hair, you’ll see
from a distance, she loves to warm up
by the crackling fire.
She cozies up tight in her plush blanket
with a book, as she reads into the night.
I see her in me through her sun-kissed face
and rosy cheeks, her confidence
rubbed off onto me.
She is a spark of happiness and wonder,
I look up to her I smile.
She glows with light when there is darkness
she will always shine and glimmer,
she is my sun.
Annie Year 8
A long journey
A baby blue snail slides on the sand,
its spiral shell scraping bumpy lumps.
Eek goes the snail, gliding unsmoothly through the rocks
searching for his ancestors.
A large, shaped figure towers over,
leaving darkness. The snail whispers,
unable to breathe, it came in like a wrecking ball.
Olivia Year 7
My Matariki
During Matariki
I will ride the star dragon
across the sky we will go
like a shooting sun
I will fight 100 times
by the end I will be bruised battered drained
and exhausted
Glow sticks decorating my silhouette
will illuminate the big black void
I shall paint on the dark canvas
with my fingertips
The world will see my work
my masterpiece
displayed
The conqueror of the sky
Me?
Seanne Year 10
as clear as the oval days
a kite soars high, blocking the colourful rays
swishes weave between the ripe green grass
her eyes twinkle ice blue like the sky’s
Chloe Year 7
The day we all died
The galaxy is like a heart beating strongly.
Not all hearts are healthy.
All life has to end. As the galaxy lies
on its death bed, it coughs up
some stars. It’s heart, our heartbeat
slows, the clock ticks down
slowly, we all take
our last breath, ascend to the sky
to take the old star’s places, waiting
for the time we will be replaced
by new stars, we will
forever be forgotten.
Maellis Year 7
Pisces / Fish
A vibrant yellow fish
swims in the sea.
His fins glide
in the sea swish
He has an eye that shines
like a wonderful star.
The wavy water splashes
swish swish.
As I sip on my drink
I hear a scream from my bottle
then the fish swims away.
Frankie, Year 4
A whale shark in waves
An enchanting whale shark floats in the moana
like a wave, Mum is calm and full
of chaos, a reminder that even in stillness,
there’s always movement and change.
She's a jellyfish glowing even in the dark.
A vivid orange coral
in a host of emerald green.
Holly-Belle Year 8
Matariki Dreaming
At Matariki, I run away from a murderous mandarin.
But every step I take, he rolls along close behind.
At Matariki, I annoy my sisters by coming into their room –
they always hate that.
At Matariki, I thank god for giving us a public holiday.
At Matariki, I meet Pelly Penguin and now at the ice cave
we meet every public holiday.
At Matarik,i I ride a star horse in the dead of night.
As she leaves the ground, I land on my head.
On Matariki night, Mum tells me off for not being asleep.
I never want to sleep because tomorrow
we have to go to prison/ school.
Willow Year 6
Gamer Dennis
Let me describe my brother –
same as me he loves video games.
He has a mind of silicon and fingers like wire.
My first time going to Drexels, it was only me and him,
I learn a lot of from him about video games.
Almost any question I ask him
he knows the answer, the hardest question
for him is video games or chocolate milk?
His fingers flash across the keyboard, how focused
his eyes are on the screen, and how smart he is.
Together we play a space game, called Astroneer.
Charlie Year 6
She’s a river and I’m a stream
My mother is calm
like a songbird in the forest.
Rivers flowing in the undergrowth,
diverse and interesting.
A delicate warmth
and a passion for nature.
Cool and smooth like moss
curling up with a food book.
She’s a river and I’m a stream
bonding and flowing like one.
My mother is calm like a songbird in the forest.
Macy Year 8
Beautiful woman
Her hair is chocolate brown
her shoes tap on the ground.
like wood clomping.
She looks up at the cluster of stars
the girl called Shilo dances
under the night sky
She looks left and right
the sun smiles down.
Gia Year 5
Matariki Mia
Mia's hair is as bright as the sun
Her dress swishes in the cold wind
Her shoes are as red as her dress
She looks up into the sky in delight
Mia's eyes glow in amazement
as Matariki showered down on Mia
Mia Year 6
Gemini Twins
The twins wear mischief coats,
The twins make trouble,
But when I say trouble,
I mean real Triple trouble.
They once lit the village on flames.
They are terror twins.
They like mischief.
Luckily, they're now dead…
Jayveen Year 6
My Grandma
My Grandma’s name is Iilynn. My family believe
her spirit is in the pīwakawaka, her favourite bird.
She met me when I was 1 or 2 days old, just a seed.
She loves music making the sounds of mānuka
and kānuka flowers when she plays on the guitar in pubs.
She has two sons, my dad, Rodney, with his strong branch arms,
and my uncle, Scot, growing kumara. Our favourite moment
was when we went to the miniature trains,
we wound through the trees and over the streams.
She is the gardener, I’m the tree. She cares about me.
Lachlan Year 7
My dad’s like water
Cool like a river
Always flowing
Helping but never taking over
Eyes—a reflection of the wide ocean
Riding the waves on his surfboard
Splash, whoosh, crash
Tearing his way down the ski field
Snowflakes go flying
Sprinkling down
Like magic in the sunlight
Colette Year 8
Cancer Crab
The sand is a bitty mustard
Beep!!! Goes the horn
for the start of
the race
Isla scuttles
like a hand across
the sand, she sneaks silently
to escape the predators, but is squished
by a boy called Jayveen.
Isla Year 6
Ngā mihi o Matariki, te tau hou Māori
(c) Write On and the Young Writers, 2025
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