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Your poetry

Original writing from readers of The Pulse before 2007.

Poetry Competition Poems

August 2006

Norman, 13

In memory of you
I wish you'd notice, I wish you cared.
I lose my sleep hoping you're just scared. Of what I'd think, Of what I'd say. But I know, it can never be this way.
I'm afraid you'll smirk and look away, breaking my heart, with one simple wave.
And so dear one, I regret to say, Goodbye, I love you, I always have.
I always will, to the end of my days, think of you as the one of whom I was always afraid.

Stevey, 17

Maori carvinga dying wish was
a dying treasure,
a forgotten burden
that went on forever
how did we multiply
and how did we feed?
the treaty of our tupuna
once again deceived
our mana was trampled
and our tikanga broken
a rule that implied
Maori was never to be spoken
A revolution formed
As the years went by
This new generation
Will not stand by
And watch you as
you disrespect
the tangata whenua
and its facet
united we stand
divided we fall
tinorangatiratanga
salutes to the dawn.
(This poem was a freestyle)

GrassAlex, 13

Lost without You.
Walking on the soft sand,
Where we use to walk together.
Splashing in the cool water,
Where we used to splash together.
Listening to the whispering winds,
Like we used to listen together.
Writing a message for you in the sand,
As I hope you'd do for me.
Somewhere, Far away from here.
Because your with me no longer.
Because I lost you,
To my enemy, to your fate.
To Alzheimer's.

Also highly commended was this poem by rachel

She sits in the corner
The four walls surrounding her move and become unsteady Nothing feels real anymore Is she real?
Pick up a pen and paper
Calm down
Everything's ok
It will be ok
Blood oozes from the pen
Where is the ink?
I think she's lost her mind!
It's not real
Nothing's real
It's fine I tell her
Her eyes become wide
I can tell she's having trouble
Her body feels heavy
And her mind flickers on and off
As hysteria sets in
It's ok
You're safe
I'm here with you
The room gradually gets darker
She picks up a knife
But doesn't have the energy to use it
The knife falls from her trembling hand
I think i will take over from here
Sitting up from where she lay down
I light my smoke and watch over her
I will keep her safe
Until she wakes

Poems by Hannah

Can I tell you something? by Hannah

Can I tell you something?
I didn't want to die!
All I did was ask you to sing,
So that I could say goodbye.

Can I tell you something?
I'm dead because of you!
And now I'll never bring,
Songs of joy to you.

You couldn't come to me,
So I went to you,
And now I'll never see,
The morning when it's new.

Can I tell you something?
I forgive you for my death,
Because I love you, and that's that,
Better than the rest.

Black night by Hannah

Looking out a window into a black night,
What can you see? Is there a light?
Where do you go to? What can you do?
There is no way to see, nowhere to turn.
Then you let go, your spirit runs free
In every good thing you can find me
I may be dead, I may be gone
But look around you and see what you can
At the end of the tunnel.
There is only light,
There is no way to turn back
And Heaven awaits you.
Do not grieve.
I watch over you.

I heard a sad story today by Hannah

I heard a story today
A little girl lost at sea.
Her mummy and daddy cried
But nothing would bring her back.

I heard a sad story today
A little girl's lost body
Swept up on the shore.

I heard a story today
A funeral for a little girl
Lost at sea and swept up on shore.
Still her mummy and daddy cry.

I heard a sad story today
A little girl's parents wasted tears
As little girl is gone,
For little girl is me.

Guardian angel by Hannah

I know of someone,
Who listens to what you say,
She knows that you might feel some,
Sadness and pain one day.
That is when she shows herself,
And makes sure that she is heard.
She isn't a dwarf, or an elf,
She flies but she's not a bird.
I'm telling of someone,
Who to you is very close,
But she knows that you might not come
To a part of the heavenly host.
For I'm telling you of an angel,
Who flies in heaven above,
And you always must be careful,
For she sheds you with too much love.
God has sent her down to you
To protect you and to love,
And remember that you must love her too,
You angel from Heaven above.

Poems by Madison

peace through violencePeace Through Violence by Madison

My world is a perfect one
I've never seen a war.
Our dictators keep us in line,
there's anarchy no more.

My world is a perfect one
And everyone agrees.
Conform to them, you'll fit right in
just don't do as you please.

My world is a perfect one,
I'll share with you our trick.
We gain our peace through violence
so the masses aren't at risk.

My world is a perfect one
and if you disagree,
we'll probably just kill you
in the name of liberty.

We'll slaughter deformed children
We'll slaughter the unique
And then, if you don't like it,
We'll label you a freak.

Through violence we're made perfect
Because we're all the same
And we'll just keep on killing
So that our mothers can say:

The fields are safe, my child
Go on outside and play.
But please, don't sit upon the ground;
the blood will likely stain.

So everyone is happy
except for all the dead
But how can they voice protest
Beneath their stone grave heads?

So kill the ones born poor
And kill all of the needy.

In the end, it's for the best,
The starving act too greedy.

My world is a perfect one,
We never have a war.
How can we have one, after all,
When ruled by dictator?

The fields are safe, my child,
Go on outside and play.
But please, don't sit upon the ground;
The blood will likely stain.

a skeleton in my closetA Skeleton In My Closet by Madison

There's a skeleton beneath my bed
As mother kisses me good night
She tucks me in and pats my head,
I wait 'till she turns off the light.

The skeleton beneath my bed
Will listen when no one else will.
No one cares about what I've said,
But he will let me speak my fill.

So during lonely nights we dance,
Until the pasty sunrise shines
And through my window sun shine slants,
Then into my closet he climbs.

Throughout my days, I'm in a daze
Until the sun gives up its reign,
I grip his bones in fevering haze
And round and round we dance again.

Oh, morbid curiosity
What else is there worth living for?
A skeleton to comfort me,
Just beyond my closet door.

The warmth of flesh feels cold to me
Beneath the calluses I've grown
But sharp bone can cut my skin free,
At least I'll call something my own.

False happiness is everywhere,
Materialistic pride and waste,
But all I ask is to feel care,
Or just a little, tiny taste.

So when contentment's just a myth
And life's white lies have lost their wit,
I'll just keep on dancing with
The skeletons in my closet.

Childhood's End by Dana

Here I am ready to spread my wings
Scared out of my mind
A whole new world filled with wondrous things
A whole lifetime left behind

I'm staring at hallways that will be filled
With people: children, adults
as of yore
Walls that will witness laughing and crying
Just as before

Hallways filled with sundrops and tears
With smiles and teenage fears
Each mark bears a story, of someone before me
A life's tale etched on a tree

Here I am at childhood's end
Fear, hope wonder all filling my mind
Looking within myself for a friend
The part of me left behind,
At childhood's end.

January/February 2004

Poetry Comp/Winner of the $250 Discman: It was a really tough call for the team here at Pulse to pick a winner. The poems you sent in were simply awesome but there was something about Brooke's writing that made us go back to it … again … and again … and again …

BURNT OUT

Day's ember
falls into night
lunges
with an outspread hand
grabs
then pushes away
the angst
of a day gone bad
(Brooke Heald)

Congrats also to runners up who will be receiving a copy of Ken Catran's latest book 'Bloody Liggie':

Canterbury-a haiku

sleeping, rolling hills,
a colourful patchwork plain,
spinning on our world
(Catherine Simpson)

A G's Heart

No matter we be gangsta's our game be tight
Sitting looking out hoping she don't die ra'night
Stringing on a whole male thug
Wishing he would show her love
Giving her best at everything so he be king when she's gangsta queen
G's up, bloodz up, hoe's down,
Aint nothing gonna hear up the sounds of a little gurl
gettin beat around
Her heart on fire
a thug was all that she desired
Now all that she does is cryin
Tryna' hold up her gangsta pride
(Donna)

Untitled

Life begins at 40 that is what they say,
But i have just turned 80
And searching for a way
To keep the old bones moving
And still feel like some play.
It's not much the years you live
But an inner drive to always give
And seeing always what is best
And what will last and pass the test
(Yana Dashevski)

Untitled

My dad has a car
that would not go far
It wouldn't be unjust to call it a pile of rust.
Parts were scattered far and wide
Mum saw them - and ran to hide.
My dad is never in bed
He's always in the shed
Working on a car
That will never go far
(Vaughan Scott)