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Poetry Sharing Celebration

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Poetry Sharing Celebration

Read the poem, explore how its words work, then plan a thoughtful poetry share. There can be more than one good interpretation—explain your thinking.

A poem to share

Read the poem aloud once in your head. Notice the images and sounds.

At the edge of the bay, the pōhutukawa leans, A red-haired giant guarding silver-blue scenes. The tide tiptoes in with a whispering sigh, While gulls stitch white letters across the wide sky. The wind is a drummer on branches of green; Bright blossoms scatter like sparks on the scene. I sit in its shade as the day slips away— The old tree seems to say, “Come back another day.”

Notice the poet's choices

Use details from the poem in your answers. When you share an idea aloud, speak clearly and listen respectfully to others.

1.Which phrase gives the tide a human action?

“silver-blue scenes”
“the tide tiptoes in”
“branches of green”
“the day slips away”

2.In “The wind is a drummer”, what two things are being compared, and what does this metaphor help you imagine?

3.Find the simile in the poem. What does it compare, and which word signals the comparison?

4.Choose one pair of rhyming words from the poem. What sound do they share?

5.The poet calls the tree “a red-haired giant”. Which detail of a pōhutukawa does this description help you picture?

6.How does the speaker seem to feel about the tree at the end? Give one clue from the poem to support your idea.

Prepare to share

Poetry can sound different when it is read aloud. Make choices that help your audience enjoy the words.

7.You are reading “The Old Tree’s Welcome” aloud. Which plan would best help listeners notice its changing sounds and images?

Read every line quickly in the same voice.
Pause at the end of each line and emphasise sound words such as “whispering sigh” and “drummer”.
Whisper the whole poem so no words stand out.
Stop after every word to explain its meaning.

8.A listener says, “I liked the poem.” Write a more helpful, specific piece of feedback that names a phrase and explains its effect.

9.Plan a short poem of your own about a place in Aotearoa New Zealand. Name the place or subject, describe one image you want readers to picture, and include one poetic device you could use.

10.After hearing a poem shared aloud, write one respectful response that mentions a particular word, sound, or image you remember.